Human Rights Information Centre requests investigating lawfulness of presidential elections in Moldova

Chisinau, 15 November /MOLDPRES/- The Human Rights Information Centre (CIDO) today asked the competent institutions for investigating lawfulness of the presidential elections, in the context of many cases of infringements reflected in the media by journalists and observers as regards the 13 November presidential elections.

In connection with the diaspora vote, CIDO requests claiming rights of people who could not exercise the constitutional right to vote. CIDO reminds that the right to elect is a fundamental right set both in the Constitution and international treaties. In this context, CIDO urges the Central Election Commission and the competent institutions to immediately act in order to facilitate an efficient dialogue with diaspora members, who, because of bad organization, failed to exercise their right to vote. To avoid such situations in future, it was proposed to consider as a priority the possibility to insert electronic voting or/and to provide a sufficient number of polling stations and ballot papers proportionally the number of people living abroad.

In the context of street protests, CIDO requested the enforcement bodies to ensure citizens’ right to protest, to prevent and remove challenges that might degenerate into violent protests.

At the same time, CIDO reminded that the president was meant to represent and defend without any discrimination fundamental rights of all citizens, equal in rights, as stipulated in the Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international treaties, which Moldova was part of. Thus, CIDO condemned hate speeches, any incitement to discrimination, racial and homophobic statements during the election campaign and describes the manipulation of public opinion in the above-mentioned ways as inadmissible.

Also, CIDO urges president-elect Igor Dodon to refrain from sexist, racist and homophobic rhetoric, and in order to avoid division of society, he should integrate the interests of all citizens without any discrimination in his political speech.

Direct presidential elections took place in Moldova two days ago. CEC announced that after processing 100 per cent of reports, candidate of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) Igor Dodon picked up 52.18 per cent, and contender of PAS, PPDA, PLDM Maia Sandu got 47.82 per cent of votes.