ECHR fines Moldova for undue detention of ex-investigator Grigore Gorea

The European Court of Human Rights has found Moldova’s Government guilty in the case of “Gorea v. Moldova” and held that the former officer Grigore Gorea had been unlawfully detained for almost half a year. The case of Gorea became known to the public opinion in December 2004, on the eve of parliamentary elections, when Gorea made some disclosures in connection with the criminal proceedings against certain functionaries from the City Hall, including the then mayor Serafim Urecheanu. After his revelations, an investigation against him, suspended back in 2002, was re-opened. Gorea was arrested in May 2005 and held in custody until November, same year. ECHR obliged the Government to pay the plaintiff EUR 9,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage and EUR 2,500 for costs and expenses. Moldova lost almost 70 cases in Strasbourg and was obliged to pay damages totalling about 1.3 million euros.