According to the project, the people found guilty of using fascist, racist, or xenophobic symbols will be punished with imprisonment from 5 to 10 years, with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise a certain activity for a term of up to 10 years with a fine of up to 150,000 Moldovan Lei (7,500 euros) and the liquidation of the legal entity.

Also, for denying or publicly contesting the Holocaust or its effects, the penalty could be up to five years in prison, with the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise a certain activity for a period of up to five years.

“In the name of the fundamental values ​​of the rule of law, Moldova must affirm its commitment to combat racial discrimination, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism. By triggering punitive reactions to such actions, this amendment aims to strengthen anti-discrimination legislation and improve Holocaust education. We appreciate that the sanctioning power of criminal law substantially reduces the cases of extremism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, but also attempts to deny the Holocaust in Moldova,” the information note states.

The authors of the project also propose that the spreading and public use of fascist, racist or xenophobic symbols, the promotion of the cult of persons definitively convicted for crimes against peace and security of mankind or for war crimes and crimes against humanity be punished with fines of up to 50,000 lei (2,500 euros), with up to 240 hours of unpaid community service or up to three years in prison with the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise a certain activity for a period of up to five years. The legal person could be punished with a fine of up to 150,000 lei (7,500 euros), with deprivation of the right to exercise a certain activity for a term of five years, or with the liquidation of legal persons.