The members of the Petrenco group, including former MP Grigore Petrenco, were given suspended sentences by the Rascani office of the Court of Chisinau municipality on June 28. The ex-MP was found guilty of causing public disorder during the September 6, 2015 protest and got a suspended sentence of four years and a half. He was also fined 10,000 lei, IPN reports.

The other six members were given suspended sentences of three to four years. They were all placed under judicial control until a definitive decision is passed. However, the prosecutors requested jail terms and a heavier fine.

Grigore Petrenco said the group members do not agree with the sentence and consider it illegal. “We will definitely challenge it in the Appeals Court. Today the judges showed once again that they fulfill political orders. This is a political case. There was no evidence showing our blame. The sentence is very harsh and, for the first time in Moldova, citizens were convicted of so-called public disorder,” he stated. He also said he is convinced that the sentence represents personal revenge taken by the leader of the Democratic Party Vladimir Plahotniuc and is an attempt to intimidate the opposition forces.

The former MP said he will appeal the decision to the Appeals Court and will also go to the European Court of Human Rights to seek justice.

After the sentence was passed, the prosecutor dealing with this case said he will examine all the arguments of the court and will decide whether to challenge the judgment or not.