PRESS RELEASE

Sequestration in the case of the former President of the Republic of Moldova

In view of the increased public interest and multiple requests for access to information received from media representatives regarding the case investigated by anti-corruption prosecutors, in which the former President of the Republic of Moldova is concerned, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office provides the following details:

Today, 23 June 2022, in accordance with the provisions of Article 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in compliance with the legal procedure, the former President of the Republic of Moldova, who is a defendant in the criminal case, was summoned to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office , in order to be handed a copy of the decision on the seizure of assets, which are the subject of the investigation.

In this context, the investigating judge accepted the request of the anti-corruption prosecutors and authorised the seizure of the real estate owned personally by the former President of the Republic of Moldova, as well as those owned through intermediaries.

Therefore, at this stage of the prosecution of the case, in order to ensure a possible special or extended confiscation of assets, the following real estate was seized:

- land and individual house, located in mun. Chisinau, where the former president and his family live;

- land and buildings, located in the outskirts of the village of Sadova, district of Calarasi, owned through intermediaries close to the former head of state, who are accomplices in the offence of illicit enrichment;

- 4 plots of land and 6 buildings located in the village of Molovata, Dubasari district, held through an accomplice of the former President, currently in pre-trial detention;

- 4 cars, held through an intermediary third person.

It should be recalled that the former President of the Republic of Moldova is charged with four counts, as follows: passive bribery (Article 324(3) of the Criminal Code), organising, directing and knowingly accepting the financing of a political party by an organised criminal group (Article 181/2(5) of the Criminal Code), treason (Article 337(1) of the Criminal Code) and illicit enrichment (Article 330/2 of the Criminal Code).

In this context, we would like to assure the public that the criminal investigations in this case are being carried out within the limits of the criminal procedure legislation, with respect for all the rights and freedoms of the person concerned, ensuring the principle of presumption of innocence, confidentiality of criminal proceedings, respect for privacy and personal data.

23 June 2022

Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office