“The state of the justice system in Moldova is extremely difficult”, stated lawyer Eduard Rudenco during a press conference, referring to the latest ruling in the Petrenco group’s case. According to Rudenco and his colleagues, this is indicative of the fact that the corrupt practices used during the Plahotniuc era are still present in the system.
Recently a judge from the Chisinau/Buciucani district court decided to terminate prosecution in the case, rather than fully acquitting the former political detainees. The Petrenco group’s defense team says this basically prevents their clients from seeking damages while leaving those responsible for their illegal prosecution and detention get away with it.
The termination decision issued by Aurelia Cazacliu, says Rudenco, “proves without doubt that these people do not change and do not want to answer before the law, that one hand washes the other”.
“Had an acquittal ruling been pronounced in this case, people like (prosecutors) Nicu Șendrea and Igor Popa would have had to answer. A few judges from district courts, from the Court of Appeal, police officers that pretended to be victims should have also faced prosecution. But by having such a judge at their disposal, they just walk away scot-free”, says Rudenco.
Lawyer Roman Aronov thinks that the lack of transparency and competence, as well as the failure to adhere to the standards of the European Convention on Human rights, are some of the biggest challenges in the Moldovan judiciary that prevent judges from being independent and issuing unambiguous decisions.
Lawyer Ana Ursachi says that a proper verdict in the Petrenco group’s case would have restored Moldova’s reputation internationally and would have offered satisfaction to a group of activists that became the victims of political persecution “in some of the most notorius cases of the Plahotniuc era, a case that has been widely discussed on numerous international platforms”. Uraschi added that the defense team will appeal and take action against Judge Cazacliu.
