The former leader of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc was stripped of the Order of the Republic. A decree to this effect was signed by President Maia Sandu. The official argued a person who robbed the country, attacked and weakened the state institutions and built an authoritarian regime cannot hold a state award, IPN reports.

Maia Sandu said the award was conferred in breach of the procedures and legal norms, namely of the regulations concerning the method of nominating for state awards of the Republic of Moldova and of handing these over.

“The proposal to award Vlad Plahotniuc was submitted by the municipal organization of the Democratic Party, which is a violation of the legal norms as the law does not stipulate the political parties among the subjects that can nominate persons for state awards,” explained President Sandu.

Vladimir Plahotniuc was awarded the Order of the Republic in 2014, by the then President Nicolae Timofti. Under the legislation, the Order of the Republic is the highest state award that is conferred for exceptional merits in all the areas of activity for the benefit of the homeland and mankind.