Dmitri Constantinov is no longer wanted: the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Comrat Court

Former Speaker of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia Dmitri Constantinov is no longer wanted after the Southern Court of Appeal overturned the decision ordering the measure. According to the court ruling, the authorities incorrectly applied the procedure, as the conviction is not final, with the case pending before the court of appeal, IPN reports.

The decision was issued by the panel of the Southern Court of Appeal in Comrat, which upheld the appeal lodged by Constantinov’s lawyer and overturned the ruling of the Comrat Court of 29 December 2025. The judges explained that a person may be declared wanted as a convicted person only after the sentence becomes final. In Constantinov’s case, the first-instance verdict was still under appeal, and the sentence enforcement procedure could not be applied.

In December 2025, the Comrat Court sentenced Dmitri Constantinov to 12 years in prison in a closed-type penitentiary in a case concerning the embezzlement of more than 46 million lei and abuse of office. The sentence was handed down in the defendant’s absence. Immediately after the verdict, police announced that he was not at home and asked the court to declare him wanted for the enforcement of the sentence. On 29 December 2025, the Comrat Court upheld the request, and Constantinov’s assets, including land and industrial buildings in Comrat, were seized.

Subsequently, the defence challenged the measure, arguing that Dmitri Constantinov did not yet have the legal status of a “finally convicted person”, as the law provides a 15-day period for appealing the sentence. Moreover, the lawyer argued that the appeal had already been lodged, meaning that the case was still under examination and the sentence could not be enforced.

The Southern Court of Appeal accepted the arguments, and the judges stated that, until the appeal is examined, Constantinov could possibly be searched for only as a defendant, in order to be brought to court hearings, and that such a procedure should have been initiated by prosecutors, not by the police. The next hearing in Constantinov’s case, concerning his 12-year prison sentence, is scheduled for 2 June.



The National Anticorruption Center initiated 428 criminal cases in the first six months of the year and sent about half of the investigated files to court. Also, the Agency for the Recovery of Criminal Assets seized 382 assets worth over 236 million lei, reports IPN.

According to the data in the activity report presented at the meeting of the CNA College, during this period, another 447 corruption offenses were documented, and 500 people were recognized as suspects.

On the asset recovery component from offenses, the courts have confirmed previous seizures on goods worth over 221 million lei. At the same time, ARBI issued 15 freezing orders on assets, with a total value of over 22.7 million lei.

The CNA has also reported on activities carried out in the field of corruption prevention. In the first six months of the year, the institution examined 616 regulatory projects, of which 538 were subjected to anti-corruption expertise to identify risks that could favor acts of corruption.

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Dmitri Constantinov is no longer wanted: the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Comrat Court

Former Speaker of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia Dmitri Constantinov is no longer wanted after the Southern Court of Appeal overturned the decision ordering the measure. According to the court ruling, the authorities incorrectly applied the procedure, as the conviction is not final, with the case pending before the court of appeal, IPN reports.

The decision was issued by the panel of the Southern Court of Appeal in Comrat, which upheld the appeal lodged by Constantinov’s lawyer and overturned the ruling of the Comrat Court of 29 December 2025. The judges explained that a person may be declared wanted as a convicted person only after the sentence becomes final. In Constantinov’s case, the first-instance verdict was still under appeal, and the sentence enforcement procedure could not be applied.

In December 2025, the Comrat Court sentenced Dmitri Constantinov to 12 years in prison in a closed-type penitentiary in a case concerning the embezzlement of more than 46 million lei and abuse of office. The sentence was handed down in the defendant’s absence. Immediately after the verdict, police announced that he was not at home and asked the court to declare him wanted for the enforcement of the sentence. On 29 December 2025, the Comrat Court upheld the request, and Constantinov’s assets, including land and industrial buildings in Comrat, were seized.

Subsequently, the defence challenged the measure, arguing that Dmitri Constantinov did not yet have the legal status of a “finally convicted person”, as the law provides a 15-day period for appealing the sentence. Moreover, the lawyer argued that the appeal had already been lodged, meaning that the case was still under examination and the sentence could not be enforced.

The Southern Court of Appeal accepted the arguments, and the judges stated that, until the appeal is examined, Constantinov could possibly be searched for only as a defendant, in order to be brought to court hearings, and that such a procedure should have been initiated by prosecutors, not by the police. The next hearing in Constantinov’s case, concerning his 12-year prison sentence, is scheduled for 2 June.


The designated Prime Minister Vasile Tofan presented his governing program, titled “European Economy, Efficient State”, on the eve of the Parliament session where he will request a vote of confidence for the new executive. The document, with a volume of 147 pages, emphasizes the relaunch of the economy, the efficiency of public administration, and the acceleration of the process of joining the European Union, reports IPN.

Vasile Tofan asserts that the new Government aims to bolster citizens’ trust in state institutions through equity, transparency, and responsible use of public funds, so that the savings made can be transformed into better investments and public services.

One goal of the program is to accelerate European integration. “Let’s decisively speed up the accession to the European Union – the historic opportunity of our generation,” declared Vasile Tofan.

According to the document, the Government aims to revive economic growth by stimulating investments, supporting the business environment, and increasing productivity. The program also envisages the digitalization of the economy, the development of artificial intelligence, the modernization of public services, and the reduction of bureaucracy.

The Executive takes on the reform of public administration, with the goal of building a more efficient, digital, and accountable state. Among the priorities are the efficient use of public money, simplifying the relationship between citizens and institutions, and improving the services offered to the population.

In the field of security and justice, the program provides for the strengthening of legal institutions, combating corruption and organized crime, as well as developing crisis management capabilities. The document also includes measures to improve the quality of life, through investments in health, education, social protection, and community development.

Vasile Tofan will present the activity program and the composition of the government team in Parliament on Tuesday, asking for the vote of confidence from the deputies. According to the Constitution, the Government can be invested with the vote of the majority of the elected deputies.

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1 IANUARIE, 2025
1 IANUARIE, 2025