The Chisinau Court of Appeals banned the initiative group for the organization of a referendum on teaching the Basis of Orthodoxy in schools from collecting signatures in favor of the plebiscite. The decision was passed on Tuesday, June 15, Info-Prim Neo reports. The court accepted the complaint of the initiative group for the promotion of a secular state, which is composed of 17 NGOs, against the Central Election Commission's decision to allow collecting signatures in favor of the referendum. Arcadie Barbarosie, the head of the Public Policy Institute that is one of the members of the initiative group for the promotion of a secular state, has told Info-Prim Neo that the intention of the initiative group headed by former Minister of Defense Valeriu Pasat is unconstitutional. Moreover, those who challenged the Central Election Commission's decision in court said the referendum can coincide with the one announced by the Liberal-Democratic coalition, on the procedure for electing the head of state. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, the secretary of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections Nicolae Panfil said the Court of Appeals has not yet announced the reasons for its decision. CEC secretary Iurie Ciocan said the electoral body will decide whether to dispute the decision in court in two days, when the court presents its reasons. Valeriu Pasat's consultant Remus Turcan said the official position of the initiative group for teaching religion in schools will be made public in the near future.