The Association of Constitutional Justice of the Countries of the Baltic and Black Sea Regions (BBCJ) expresses its deep concern with regard to the pressure exercised by the President of the Republic of Moldova and his interference with the activity of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova.

Under the principle of the rule of law, in every democratic state the Constitution, including the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court, binds all individuals, institutions and state authorities. The Constitutional Court safeguards the supremacy of the Constitution, it being a fundamental constitutional value. This can only be fulfilled, if the Constitutional Court is genuinely independent. Therefore, the authority of the Constitutional Court, and specifically its exclusive power to officially interpret the Constitution, must be respected by all state institutions and officials, including the head of state.

BBCJ declares its support to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova and considers inadmissible any actions of state authorities and officials that undermine the fundamentals of democracy and the rule of law, the authority of the Constitutional Court, violate its independence, and are, therefore, unacceptable in a democratic state.

Viktor KRYVENKO,

Acting President of the Association of Constitutional Justice of the Countries

of the Baltic and Black Sea Regions, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine

Zaza TAVADZE,

President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia

Dainius ŽALIMAS,

President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania