The ex-president of the Administration Board of Banca de Economii Ilan Shor, mayor of Orhei town, who was convicted of causing damage to the state by swindle and abuse of power, was invited to pay a visit to the European Parliament. Deputy head of the Shor Party Marina Tauber told a news conference that Ilan Shor’s lawyers are to submit an application to court and ask for permission for their client to travel to the European Parliament on July 10-13, IPN reports.

Marina Tauber said that at the end of June, she, together with Ilan Shor’s lawyers, paid an official visit to the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, where they had a number of meetings with MEPs and members of the PACE. The discussions centered on a number of issues, including the situation of Ilan Shor and the violation of his basic human rights and freedoms and the constraints to which he is subject.

“As a result of the detailed information and truthful arguments we presented to the MEPs and of the presentation of the projects promoted and implemented by Ilan Shor, which hold interest for the MEPs, Ilan Shor was invited to pay a working visit to the European Parliament in Brussels during July 10 - 13 to discuss his problem and activities promoted as a political leader, the political situation in our country and other subjects related to the European cooperation,” stated Marina Tauber.

The Buiucani office of the Court of Chisinau on June 21 sentenced Ilan Shor to seven years and a half in semi-closed jail for causing considerable damage to the state by swindle and abuse of confidence. The same day, the businessman was released from house arrest and will be under judicial control until a definitive judgement is passed. The lawyers, as well as the prosecutors who asked for 19 years in jail for Ilan Shor, said they will appeal the sentence to a higher court. Ilan Shor pleads not guilty.