The Chisinau Court on March 20 pronounced a decision by which it suspended the implementation of President Igor Dodon’s decree to withdraw the Moldovan nationality granted to ex-Romanian President Traian Basescu. The Court also obliged the defendant to present evidence in support of the decree until May 2. The first hearing in this case was scheduled for May 16, IPN reports.

In a press release, Traian Basescu’s defense says the former President of Romania submitted a preliminary application to President Igor Dodon on February 1, 2017 through the agency of his lawyer. He requested that the January 3, 2017 decree to withdraw the nationality should be withdrawn as illegal.

On March 6, 2017, Basescu’s lawyer received a letter whereby he is informed that the preliminary application was rejected. The letter contained no legal reasons for the rejection. Therefore, on March 16, 2017, Basescu filed a lawsuit against Igor Dodon, asking that the decree should be annulled as illegal and that this should be suspended for the period of the trial.

Following the March 20 court decision, the decree of President Igor Dodon stopped to produce legal effects until a judgment is passed. But this can be challenged at the Chisinau Appeals Court within 15 days.