Supporters of former MP Grigore Petrenco and his company welcome the placement of the group under house arrest, but consider that this was done following the exertion of political influence on justice. The issue was discussed in the talk show “Politics” on TV 7 channel, IPN reprots.

Ana Ursache, the lawyer for the Petrenco group, believes that the decision to move Grigore Petrenco and company from prison to await trial under house arrest represents a direct order made by Vladimir Plahotniuc. “The decision to transfer them under house arrest was taken as a matter of urgency by the same panel of judges that on February 15 rejected out request to the same effect. They possibly got scared of the coming of the European rapporteurs. Regretfully, the procedure was not respected and there was political interference in justice. The same happened in the case of the women from Straseni, who was placed under house arrest after being sentenced to six years in jail, and in the case of unionist George Simeon. The Ministry of Justice phoned and transmitted Plahotniuc’s instructions to the judges,” she stated.

Former Democratic MP Stela Jantuan also considers the detention form of the Petrenco group was changed by political order. “Those who are in power got scared of the arrival of the European rapporteurs. They didn’t want the reporters to see the conditions in which Petrenco was held. It would have been serious if these had seen them,” she said.

Socialist councilor on the Chisinau Council Ion Ceban said the placement of Petrenco and his group under house arrest represents a small step. “Grigore Petrenco and the other six members of the group must be acquitted,” he stated.

Ex-MP Grigore Petrenco and his six colleagues were arrested as a result of a protest with altercations staged in front of the Prosecutor General’s Office on September 6, 2015.