Ex-President Igor Dodon was to leave Moldova today. During searches, the police found plane tickets and large sums of money in foreign currency, which, according to prosecutors, confirm the intention, prosecutor Petru Iarmaliuc told the press at the Ciocana Court where the request to place Dodon under arrest for 30 days is being examined. For their part, the lawyers for Igor Dodon said the case is political in character, IPN reports.

Petru Iarmaliuc said the arrest was requested because there are risks of avoidance of the investigation, interference in investigation and destruction of evidence. New offenses can be committed and there is also the risk of public disorder. There is a huge volume of work on all the counts.

Igor Dodon was not allowed to make statements for the press before the court decision is pronounced. His lawyer Maxim Lebedinschi said the prosecutor’s request to place Dodon under arrest is a method of exerting pressure on his client. “It is clear that this is a political case that is not based on evidence. The reports that very large sums of money were found at his home are not true. We will provide details soon as now we cannot say more,” stated the lawyer.

Members and sympathizers of the Party of Socialists are protesting in front of the Ciocana Court, demanding that the party’s president of honor should be set free. The party’s executive secretary Vlad Batrîncea said there are no doubts that the case started against the former President of the Republic of Moldova is a political order. According to the Socialists, Igor Dodon’s arrest is an attempt by the government to hide its incompetence and to exert pressure on the opposition.

In front of the court, there were also persons who support the arrest of Igor Dodon. They said this should be held accountable.

Igor Dodon pleads not guilty.