Update (4:30): Traian Basescu’s lawyer Andrei Bivol informed that he filed an appeal against the decision of the common law court. In the hearing, the claimant presented incontestable evidence and arguments that prove the illegality of the challenged decree.

The Chisinau Court of Law dismissed as unfounded the application to annul the decree to withdraw the Moldovan nationality submitted by ex-President of Romania Traian Basescu. The decision can be challenged in the Appeals Court within 30 days, IPN reports.

Traian Basescu said the reasons for such a decision are not clear to him, but this is a court judgment and he will obey it. He will yet decide whether to dispute the decision or not.

According to Basescu’s lawyer Andrei Bivol, it is an illegal decision as the nationality from Traian Basescu was withdrawn abusively. The arguments that Basescu hid particular facts when he applied for nationality are inconsistent.

The lawyer for the plaintiff Maxim Lebedinschi said the court’s decision is legal as Traian Basescu was investigated as a suspect in a number of criminal cases in Romania when he received Moldovan nationality. The nationality was withdrawn because these facts were hidden from the Moldovan authorities.

President Igor Dodon signed the decree to withdraw the Moldovan nationality from former Romanian President Traian Basescu on January 3, 2017.