Back in the race: Tiraspol Court overrules Election Commission on Safonov candidacy

Andrey Safonov at press conference announcing that he is back in the race for president and that "justice has triumphed"

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - In a surprise ruling, the Tiraspol City Court in the capital of Pridnestrovie reinstated the candidacy of Smirnov-critic Andrey Safonov. Considered the strongest opposition candidate in the 10 December election, his bid for the presidential seat had previously been disqualified by the country's Central Election Commission which ruled that a number of false signatures were introduced in support of the nomination.

Safonov, not agreeing with the decision of the election authorities, took his case to court and presented evidence and withnesses arguing that the signatures had been collected according to the rules.

Andrey Mikhaylovich Safonov is the owner and editor of opposition newspaper Novaia Gazeta in Bender, Pridnestrovie's second-largest city.

Another opposition newspaper, Man and His Rights, editorialized on 22 November that Safonov is Smirnov's most serious rival and that this was the real reason why he was originally disqualified from the pre-election race. The paper believes all candidacy supporting signatures to have been valid, saying "we know, with what caution and carefulness Safonov's command approached the collection of signatures."

In its ruling, the Tiraspol-based court agrees: The signatures are good, and Safonov must be allowed to run for president. The decision of court is final.

Candidates optimistic, wishing for change

Commenting on the verdict, Andrey Safonov stated that "justice triumphed". His vice presidential running mate, Grigoriy Volovoy, called the judicial outcome "a sensation" and believes that the Safonov ticket will appeal to the voters.

" - We are optimistic because we know that there are many people wishing a change," Volovoy said.

Asked by BASA-press about the the settlement of Moldova's territorial claim, Volovoy said that he speaks for a solution based on mutual compromises.
" - No matter what decision we will take at the negotiations, it should be subsequently confirmed through a national referendum on both banks of the Dniester river. Even if [the incumbent president] Smirnov's propaganda has been working very well, many people are not followers of his policy and they want an alternative. That is why I believe that we have chances at the ballot," Volovoy said.

" - We will do our best to present our program to citizenry and to enter into struggle against the current power for the minds and hearts of our compatriots," added presidential contender Safonov. "Our objective is not fighting for the sake of fighting. We work to consolidate those forces which stand for changes in Pridnestrovie".

Safonov and Volovoy immediately got registered as candidates by the Central Election Commission on Friday. Private TV channel TVS ("Television of Free Choice") has booked them for a prime time interview, and they are booked for campaign appearances throughout the weekend.

Also known as Transnistria or Transdniester, the unrecognized Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica is an emerging democracy which has functioned as a fully independent country since a unilateral declaration of independence in 1990. It meets the requirements for statehood under international law but has limited diplomatic relations due to an unresolved territorial claim by its larger neighbor, Moldova.

In addition to Andrey Safonov, the presidential post is also being sought by three other candidates: Incumbent president Igor Smirnov, local businessman and Renewal-party member of parliament Peter Tomaily, and Nadezhda Bondarenko, Editor-in-Chief of the local communist party's newspaper "Pravda Pridnestrovya" ("The Truth of Pridnestrovie"). (With information from BASA Press)

See also:
» Outspoken Smirnov-critic Safonov launches presidential bid in Pridnestrovie
» Presidential challenger launches opposition campaign in Tiraspol
» Of 4 candidates, only 3 will run for president