President Maia Sandu’s request to replace members of the contest commission for selecting the judge of the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Moldova is to be discussed in the commission’s meeting next week so as to decide if judge Viorica Puica, who was nominated by the President, can be accepted as a member of the commission, Minister of Justice Fadei Nagachevski stated, being quoted by IPN.

The minister’s reaction comes after President Maia Sandu withdrew Pavel Abraham, a member of the contest commission who was named earlier by Igor Dodon, arguing she has reasonable doubts about his integrity. Fadei Nagachevski said that under the regulations, the authorities and the responsible organizations were to propose members for the commission until December 10, 2020. The regulations do not envision the possibility of withdrawing a member by the authorities and the responsible organizations. Only the member can decide to withdraw from the commission.

“I hope a lot that nobody is interested in obstructing/discrediting the activity of the commission, which has a very important task. I ask you to leave aside the interests and to combine forces so as to make sure that the contest is honest and transparent and the best of the best is chosen as this is in the interests of the Republic of Moldova. For public opinion to be informed, we will publish the nominal list of the commission members and the CV of Mister Pavel Abraham,” Fadei Nagacevschi posted on Facebook.

On January 14, the President’s adviser on justice Olesea Stamate informed about the withdrawal of Pavel Abraham, explaining that the goal was to ensure the contest is held maximally transparently and correctly. “We therefore designated Missis Viorica Puică, a competent and correct judge, as the representative of the presidential administration,” said Olesea Stamate.