“Ambulance case” was reinitiated despite the decision of CSJ to stop penal proceedings against Serafim Urecheanu

The ex-mayor of Chisinau, the chairman of the parliamentary faction, “Moldova Noastra” Alliance will sue Moldova at the European Court for Human Rights and will ask the maximum compensation for moral damage admitted by ECHR. On Monday, November 13, the “ambulance case” was reinitiated despite the decision of the Supreme Justice Court to stop penal proceedings against Serafim Urecheanu. The decision belongs to the panel of judges from the Centru district Court under the presidency of Nadejda Mazur. At the beginning of the sitting, Mazur announced deliberations. The lawyer of Urecheanu, Vasile Rahlea insisted that his client’s retort is heard, because it was not heard on Friday when the sitting was postponed. As well, the defense asked for some documents which appeared after the decision of CSJ. The lawyer expressed a series of procedure infringements, claiming the violation of legislation by the prosecutor Alexandru Bernaz. After more than an hour of deliberations, the panel of judges, although referred to the decision of CSJ by which the prosecutor is obliged to stop penal proceedings against Urecheanu, decided to reject the request of the lawyer, saying that it is “premature” and that “it is necessary to verify another circumstances regarding the accusation of Urecheanu”. Alexandru Bernaz failed to explain the press the difference between the action of “obliging the prosecutor to liquidate the violations of Urecheanu’s rights and to withdraw penal accusations” and stopping penal proceedings against him. He mentioned that “the prosecutor is obliged to liquidate the infringements in the case of the defendant, but it des not mean stopping proceedings”. The lawyer Vasile Rahlea told the press that it is the first case in the legal history of Moldova when a lower court ignores the decision of CSJ. According to him, it is hard to foresee how things will turn, although it is obvious that this case will be submitted to ECHR. Serafim Urecheanu declared that despite the decision of CSJ, the Centru district Court, which already has a specific popularity as concerns carrying out political orders, decided to continue the penal proceedings. Urecheanu was not surprised with this fact, saying that the order to reinitiate this political case belongs to Vladimir Voronin. The ex-mayor says the next court he will appeal to will be ECHR. After 7 months, the preliminary hearings which should have been finished within 10 days according to the legislation, finished today. The lawsuit will start on November 28 at 8.30.