Furthermore, under Article 11 of the ECHR, the measure in question must address a “pressing social need” and be proportionate to the “legitimate aim”. Compared to the criminal law provision examined in the aforementioned amicus curiae brief concerning Armenia, where the Commission saw a risk of disproportionate sanctions being imposed, Article 472 of the Contravention Code of Moldova foresees lighter, administrative sanctions; in the view of the Venice Commission, they cannot be regarded as manifestly disproportionate, provided that they are applied in a reasonable and nuanced manner.
