Former president of the Shor organization in Călărași, convicted for paid protests
The former president of the Călărași territorial organization of the “Șor” party, which was declared unconstitutional in 2023, has been sentenced to four years in prison for complicity in accepting illegal financing from an organized criminal group.
On December 16, the Chisinau Court in Buiucani issued a decision stating that the woman will serve a two-year sentence in a semi-closed penitentiary, with the latter half of her sentence conditionally suspended for a two-year probation period.
According to a press release from the court, between July 24, 2022, and October 20, 2022, the defendant, while serving as president of the Calarasi territorial organization of the "Sor" party, was involved in organizing and holding protests in Chisinau. She mobilized and transported participants from the Calarasi district to the capital and paid them for their participation in the demonstrations, thereby violating legal norms that prohibit such practices.
The case materials reveal that 468.9 thousand lei were used to organize these protests, with funds sourced from illicit activities, which were later integrated into the political party's operations.
This amount will be confiscated for the benefit of the state as it was derived from the commission of the crime, and it will be taken from the accounts of all individuals convicted of these actions.
Initially, the defendant was placed in solitary confinement but was later moved to house arrest starting October 20, 2022. A preventive arrest warrant will remain effective until the sentence is finalized.
The Chisinau Court's ruling can be appealed to the Centru Court of Appeal within 15 days.
