Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo says the real purpose of a draft amendment to the Law on the Prosecution Service is his removal from office “at all costs”. According to Stoianoglo, the bill, which was approved recently in first reading, has violated the legislative procedure as well as democratic standards.

Stoianoglo has told a press conference Thursday his Office is asking the assistance and expert advice of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Prosecutors, the International Association of Prosecutors and the diplomatic community in Moldova on these amendments, which “undermine prosecutors’ independence in favor of politicians”.

According to Alexandr Stoianoglo, most of the proposed provisions that aim to subject the prosecutor general to disciplinary action have already been recognized as unconstitutional.

“We note, with great disappointment, that the purpose of these amendments has nothing to do with strengthening institutional capacity, streamlining activity, restoring legality and the rule of law in the state. It is absolutely obvious that through these amendments the government introduces mechanisms and instruments that would allow it to subdue the Prosecution Service and exert political influence over prosecutorial decisions. Such pressure on the Prosecutor’s Office is unacceptable, as it contradicts the status of the prosecution service in any democratic state,” declared Stoianoglo.

Alexandr Stoianoglo also stated that “there are no grounds, either legal or moral” for him to resign as “everything (he has) done was according to the law”.