CHISINAU, March 21. /TASS/. Moldovan President Maia Sandu and her ruling Party of Action and Solidarity intend to watch citizens, said Igor Shor, leader of the Victory bloc of opposition parties, commenting on the government initiative to allow the Information and Security Service (SIB) to monitor citizens without court permission, as prescribed by law.
"The SIB is asking parliament to allow surveillance of citizens based on the order of its director. As they say, without trial or investigation," Shor wrote on his Telegram channel. He stressed that this violates the constitutionally defined right of people for privacy, freedom of expression, and movement. "Who was waiting for European 'democracy' there? It’s already here. It's watching you," the politician added.
In 2022, mass protests headed by the Shor party began in the republic demanding the resignation of Sandu and the government formed by her party. Their participants held the authorities responsible for a rapid rise in prices and poverty in the country. In response, Sandu accused the opposition of plotting a coup. About 50 information portals and 13 TV channels that provided the floor to opposition politicians were closed, and criminal cases were opened against some of them. In July 2023, the Constitutional Court, at the request of the government, declared the Shor party illegal.
Because of the bans, a group of oppositionists held a congress of their supporters in Moscow, announcing the establishment of the Victory bloc. It included the parties Shor, Chance, Victoria, Revival, The Power of Alternative, and Agreement of Moldova. The United States has imposed sanctions against the leadership of the bloc.