The arrest of Vladimir Andronchi is the merit not of Moldovan prosecutors, but of Ukraine, said Socialist Vasile Bolea, demanding that the government should not arrogate foreign merits to itself. According to the opposition’s representative, neither the arrest of Vladimir Andronachi nor the inclusion of Vladimir Plahontiuc and Ilan Shor in the U.S. sanctions list is the government’s accomplishment. For his part, PAS MP Dorian Istratii said the justice sector reform started to produce results and those who committed illegalities are brought home for being held accountable, IPN reports.
On Wednesday, former Democratic MP Vladimir Andronachi was arrested at the Criva-Mamaliga border crossing point after he was declared persona non-grata in Ukraine and was expelled from the neighboring country. BSC MP Vasile Bolea said Andronachi’s arrest cannot be considered an accomplishment of the Moldovan justice system.
“Our prosecution service didn’t do anything in this case. Andronachi was simply arrested in another state and was handed over to prosecutors. The situation is similar to the inclusion of Plahotniuc and Shor in the U.S. sanctions list. What does the Republic of Moldova have to do with this sanctions list? Plahotniuc left the country three years ago. Everyone is looking for him, but an international arrest warrant wasn’t issued against him. Plahotniuc was not posted on the Interpol’s website in the list of wanted persons. We say that the prosecutors took measures, but no one in our country did anything. The arrest of Andronachi is Ukraine’s merit,” Vasile Bolea stated in the program “Alternative” on TV8 channel.
For their part, representatives of the government said the justice sector reform began to have effects. According to PAS MP Dorian Istratii, the adoption of the bill to enable to try criminal cases in absentia of suspects is a very important move.
“The people have waited long for the justice sector reform. Surely, the reform lasts as we want everything to be done correctly. We now see results. Justice started to be done. Persons who are accused of fraud are brought home. I’m sure that all the culprits who fled the country will return and will answer before the law. The adopted bill on trial in the absence of the absconding person is a very important document in this regard,” stated Dorian Istratii.
“In the Republic of Moldova, the people in conflict with the law automatically become politicians. Shor, Cavcaliuc, Plahoniuc are conclusive examples. These persons can easily say that if a criminal case is started against them, this case is political in character. The U.S. sanctions, Plahontiuc’s announcement of his return to politics and the appearance of Andronachi seem to be connected between them. We can anticipate interesting presses. We already witness destabilization in the county,” said political commentator Igor Boțan.
Former Democratic MP Vladimir Andronachi is accused of considerable swindle and money laundering in the interests of a criminal organization. An international warrant for the businessman’s arrest was issued in July 2022.
