Prosecutors General Alexandr Stoianoglo does not consider there is a “serious jurist” who can classify from legal viewpoint the actions related to the so-called “kulyok” (bag). Answering journalists’ questions in a news conference, Alexandr Stoianoglo said that he had discussions with the authors of the challenge who made public the videos showing incumbent President Igor Dodon and former Democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc, where the latter transmits a bag that was allegedly with money to the first. According to Stoianoglo, the authors of the challenge admitted that these are rather political issues that have different consequence. He noted that the people who do something like this should be punished politically first of all, IPN reports.
As to the Bahamas case, Alexandr Stoianoglo said there were questioned more than 30 persons and appraisals were requested from all the state institutions, including the National Integrity Authority and the Tax Inspectorate. There were initiated several commissions rogatory, but no response has come yet. Decisions will be taken depending on the materials that will be accumulated.
The prosecutor general reiterated that Vlad Plahotniuc is a key personage in the billion theft case. His whereabouts are not known, but the PGO made requests to several states to identify the place of Plahotniuc. Alexandr Stoianoglo said that 2021 will be a decisive year in the investigation of the banking theft. Solutions are being looked for so that those to blame are extradited and judged here.
As to the hearings at the Cahul Appeals Court in the case of Ilan Shor, who was convicted by the ordinary court in 2017 for causing damage to the state by swindle and abuse of power, Alexandr Stoianoglo said no hearing was put off because of the prosecutors. It happened on the initiative of lawyers. “Regrettably, there are concerted actions on the part of lawyers and justice bodies over the investigation into the billion theft. This is a challenge for the whole justice system of the Republic of Moldova,” stated the prosecutor general. According to him, Ilan Shor and persons close to him are investigated.
