Igor Dodon will remain under house arrest after the Chisinau Court of Appeal today rejected the former president’s request for reversal. This was confirmed to IPN by Mariana Cherpec, spokesperson for the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Lead prosecutor Petru Iarmaliuc told reporters new evidence was presented justifying the measure, suggesting the risk remained high that the former president could exert undue influence by contacting with other suspects or otherwise tampering with the investigation.

Outside the courthouse, Dodon told reporters and a group of supporters that the first thing after his release he will travel to the provinces to “talk with the people”. He also declared that “the people hate this government” and that keeping him under house arrest “won’t change the prices of gas and other products”.

Dodon is accused of passive corruption, of accepting illegal financing for his party from a criminal organization, high treason and unjust enrichment. The former president denies any wrongdoing, denouncing the case against him as “politically motivated”.