Smirnova loses in PMR court to anti-independence opposition candidate

Marina Smirnova, daughter-in-law of PMR President Igor Smirnov, had her day in court ... and lost

SLOBOZYA (Tiraspol Times) - A district court in Slobozya, south of Tiraspol, ruled against a member of Igor Smirnov's close family in a court case involving the candidacy of anti-independence opposition politician Alexander Radchenko.

Marina Smirnova, the wife of Igor Smirnov's younger son Oleg Smirnov, is the daughter-in-law of Pridnestrovie's president. She is a candidate in a by-election to the Supreme Council, Pridnestrovie's parliament, where a vacant seat is currently being contested in Slobozya among five candidates.

During the election campaign, each candidate gets 15 minutes of free airtime on state-run TV PMR. Alexander Radchenko, as leader of the Social Democratic Party, wanted to use his airtime to advocate for his party's program which is in favor of a joint union state which Moldova under terms to be worked out mutually.

Opposition candidate Alexander Radchenko, leader of the Social Democratic party, is in favor of unification with Moldova and the end to PMR's de facto independence.

This implies the end of Pridnestrovie's independence as a 'de facto' sovereign state, argued fellow candidate Marina Smirnova. She appealed to the district electoral commission to stop Radchenko from engaging in anti-independence rhetoric.
After listening to arguments of both sides, during a meeting lasting 40 minutes, a decision was made in favor of Alexander Radchenko and his freedom of speech, as guaranteed by Pridnestrovie's constitution.

Court finds against Smirnov

Not satisfied with the district electorial commission's decision, the president's daughter-in-law took her case to court.

The Slobozya District Law Court of Pridnestrovie found against Marina Smirnova and ruled that a 15 minute videotaped campaign ad for candidate Alexander Rachenko should be allowed to air nationwide on state TV.

In her court case, Smirnova argued that Radchenko's campaign contained "calls to the disturbance of the integrity of the state" by appealing to voters in favor of a joint union state with Moldova, rather than the continued de facto sovereign statehood of Pridnestrovie.

According to Slobozya's chief judge, Alex Tsverkovich, "pre-election campaigning can be carried out in any way not forbidden by law, and the registered candidate has the right to independently select forms, methods and nature of his agitation."

Lawyers representing the Smirnov family refused to comment on the court's decision. They did not appeal the decision to the PMR Supreme Court and Alexander Radchenko's anti-independence and anti-Smirnov broadcast aired the same day on TV PMR.

Five candidates battle for one seat in Parliament

Five candidates will battle it out to fill the seat left vacant by the promotion of MP Peter Stepanov, who earlier this year was made part of Pridnestrovie's cabinet after being appointed to the post of PMR Minister of Industry.

The candidates, who range in age from 36 to 64, are:
- Valeri Ponomarenko, 36, production manager of Tiraspol-Transgaz.
- Alexander Radchenko, 64, leader of the Social Democratic Party and editor-in-chief of opposition newspaper "Man and His Rights". Former member of parliament.
- Marina Smirnova, 41, CEO of Gazprombank, candidate for PPP, the Patriotic Party of Pridnestrovie.
- Alexander Burlak, 49, retired, community organizer. Ex-communist.
- Alexander Turta, 48, businessman, director of Stroymebel, a privatized company.

No opinion polling has taken place yet, but local journalist see Marina Smirnov and Alex Radchenko as the two favorites. The election will take place on 10 June 2007. A total of 8,022 voters to vote in this district.

See also:
» In Transdniester, presidential candidates disagree on common state with Moldova