The Chisinau Court of Appeal today upheld the Central Electoral Commission’s decision to deny registration to the electoral bloc Victorie-Победа.

With today’s ruling appealable at the Supreme Court withing three days, MP Marina Tauber said the bloc will “most certainly” do that.

She went on to accuse the judges of “working for Maia Sandu”, insisting that the bloc’s registration bid was procedurally flawless. “They are just afraid of Ilan Shor and his team. But this won’t stop us from running anyway”, said Tauber.

On August 7, the CEC rejected Victorie-Победа’s registration application, noting, among other reasons, that the person designated to represent the bloc was under international sanctions and thus unable to manage party and campaign funds.

The unregistered bloc includes the parties Renaștere, Forța de Alternativă, Șansă, and Victorie, which are all believed to be controlled by the fugitive politician Ilan Shor. Meanwhile, a district court banned Șansă for three months.