Voronin and Popusoi still with immunity

The parliamentary legal commission for appointments and immunities has not yet decided whether to lift or not the immunity of the Communist leader Vladimir Voronin and MP Anatolie Popusoi as there were presented insufficient proofs. The cases opened against the two were sent back to the Prosecutor General's Office (PG), Info-Prim Neo reports. “The prosecutors should have investigated Voronin and Popusoi first and then take other measures. Therefore, we requested collecting more evidence,” said the commission's chairman Ion Plesca. He also said the Head of Parliament can convoke the MPs to discuss the lifting of the immunity of the two. In parallel, the commission will lodge an application with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, seeking an answer as to the withdrawal of the PACE immunity of the former President Vladimir Voronin. Deputy Prosecutor General Andrei Pantea said the legal commission for appointments and immunities' decision does not deprive the PG of the right to submit again the immunity lifting proposal to the legislative body. “Everything is a show, a political scenario before the elections,” Vladimir Voronin told the reporters. “Everything is taken out of context. I'm afraid of no one. Who should I be afraid of? Ghimpu, Lupu? They staged the April events and should tell the people why they did it. The most interesting thing is that the prosecutors make reference to press articles when they accuse me,” he said. The Communist leader stressed his image in the November 28 legislative elections will not be affected even if he remains without immunity. Vladimir Voronin is accused of misconduct in office during the April 2009 events, which resulted in Valeriu Boboc's death. Anatolie Popusoi is accused of misuse of power when signing contracts for the lease of over 600 hectares of wood in Ivancea.