Chairwoman of the “Platforma Moldova” and ex-Bashkan of Gagauzia, Irina Vlah, asked the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to organize an election observation mission in Moldova at this stage, without waiting for the official start of the election campaign.

She thanked the ODIHR representatives for their continuous efforts to support democratic institutions and ensure human rights in Moldova.

“Over the years, the OSCE/ODIHR has become synonymous for us, the citizens of the republic, with justice and a true commitment to democratic values. We appreciate your role in monitoring the electoral processes in Moldova, which are the cornerstone of the development of any democratic state,” Vlah said.

In her opinion, “the recommendations made by the OSCE/ODIHR in the final report on the monitoring of the general local elections in November 2023 were ignored by the Moldovan leadership.”

“This causes us concern, as your recommendations are directly related to the presidential elections scheduled for October 20, as well as to the next parliamentary elections to be held in 2025,” said the founder of Platform Moldova.

APPEAL TO THE OFFICE FOR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (ODIHR): 

„Esteemed representatives of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR),

Firstly, I would like to thank you for the consistent effort you put forth in support of democratic institutions and human rights in the Republic of Moldova. Over the years, OSCE/ODIHR has become synonymous with fairness and genuine commitment to democratic values for us, the citizens of Moldova. We particularly value the role you play in monitoring electoral processes in Moldova, which are fundamental to the development of any democratic state.

At the same time, together with our colleagues from “Platforma Moldova,” we regretfully note that the recommendations you made in the final monitoring report of the November 2023 general local elections have been completely disregarded by those currently in government in Moldova. This deeply concerns us, as your recommendations directly relate to the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for October 20, 2024, as well as to the regular parliamentary elections expected in 2025.

As you are well aware, today the Central Electoral Commission is far from being an independent, objective, and impartial body capable of ensuring the organization of free and fair elections. Furthermore, there are suspicions and clear indications that the government, with the complicity of the Central Electoral Commission (manifested through silence and unwillingness to address obvious abuses), has already begun to manipulate the upcoming elections and referendum scheduled for October 20. All our efforts to persuade the government and the CEC to ensure the fair conduct of these processes, upon which the fate of democracy in Moldova decisively depends, have been ignored. This gives us further reason to believe that a massive electoral fraud is being prepared for the autumn elections.

Under these circumstances, I am coming to you with a respectful request to launch an election observation mission in Moldova not just at the official start of the electoral campaign, but already at this stage. It is now that the groundwork for future electoral fraud is being laid, and only the intervention of a credible and authoritative organization like yours can compel the government to behave correctly and legally, as functional rules dictate in a truly democratic state.

I hope that my request will be treated appropriately.

Respectfully,

Irina Vlah, Founder of “Platforma Moldova””