The President of the Legal Resources Centre of Moldova, Ilie Chirtoaca, stated at the launch event that the platform includes all public cases of electoral corruption recorded up to June 16th. According to him, 67 files currently under review by the CRJM target about a hundred individuals, and the fines imposed exceed 2 million lei.

Ilie Chirtoaca mentioned the small number of acquittals and the existence of only five cases of guilt admission, without situations where the investigated individuals cooperated with the investigators. He emphasized that the platform provides access to information about the evolution of the cases and contributes to increasing transparency regarding the way these causes are examined in court.

Skye Christensen, the main technical advisor of UNDP Moldova, mentioned that the idea of the platform emerged in the context of the 2024 presidential elections, against the backdrop of the need to ensure greater accountability in cases of illegal political financing and electoral corruption. He emphasized that these files are among the most sensitive for the justice system and require both results and transparency.

According to the platform’s authors, the tool is intended for journalists, experts, and civil society organizations interested in monitoring, analyzing, and documenting the phenomenon of electoral corruption.

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According to Ilie Chirtoaca, after receiving the report of the External Evaluation Commission, the SCP has two options: either it accepts the Commission’s conclusion and determines the promotion or non-promotion of the prosecutor, or it rejects the report and orders a reassessment only once. If after reassessment, the Commission maintains its conclusion of non-promotion, and the SCP does not agree with the repeated report, the Council can reject the report and independently determine the promotion of the prosecutor. In this case, the prosecutor remains in office, but the SCP’s decision is not final if it is contested.

The President of the SCM clarifies that the SCP’s decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court of Justice within 15 days from the pronouncement of the decision. The right to appeal is held by both the evaluated prosecutor and the External Evaluation Commission, if they disagree with the solution adopted by the Council. Therefore, the filing of the appeal suspends the execution of the SCP’s decision. The Supreme Court examines the case and can reject the appeal, in which case the SCP’s decision remains valid, or it can admit the appeal and order the resumption of the evaluation procedure by the Commission or by the Council.

Ilie Chirtoaca clarifies that, if after resuming the procedure the SCP adopts the same solution again, and the decision is repeatedly contested, the Supreme Court of Justice has the final say. At this stage, the court can definitively determine the promotion or non-promotion of the evaluated prosecutor.

On the other hand, the president of CRJM points out that the formulation of a separate opinion by a CSP member does not change the outcome of the decision. The opinion is attached to the decision adopted by the majority and explains the reasons why the respective member did not agree with the final solution.

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In a position note sent to deputies, CRJM argues that the bill goes beyond simply clarifying competencies and transfers to CNA extended powers regarding the investigation of corruption, economic-financial and related offenses. At the same time, the competence area of PA is expected to be reduced.

CRJM experts warn that the proposed changes would affect the investigation of a wide range of public officials and dignitaries, from leaders of key state institutions to mayors and officials within high corruption risk authorities.

“This bill shifts the center of gravity of the anti-corruption fight from the PA – an institution that enjoys more independence and is externally evaluated – to the CNA – an institution that plays an important role, but does not have the same guarantees of independence, having a politically appointed leadership, through Parliament”, warns the president of CRJM, Ilie Chirtoaca.

CRJM argues that maintaining a formal control of the PA over criminal prosecution cannot substitute the operational capacity needed for investigating complex cases. CRJM recommends strengthening the role of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, and believes that before adopting the proposed amendments, the authorities should present an analysis demonstrating the inefficiency of the current configuration of anti-corruption institutions. In the absence of such an evaluation, CRJM asks the deputies not to vote for the project in the second reading.

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According to CRJM, the amendment was included in a different bill and voted on in the same Parliament session, in the second reading. “It is an absolutely regrettable decision, because it is not justified, it was not consulted and I believe it will serve as a fairly poor signal for the European Commission”, declared the president of CRJM, Ilie Chirtoaca.

CRJM notes that the previous threshold of 61 votes was not set arbitrarily. This offered the guarantee of broad political support for the members of the commission, as recommended by the Venice Commission. The Association warns that changing the legislation without public debates affects the credibility of the justice reform and that such a precedent can weaken the guarantees included in other laws.

And Promo-LEX lawyer, Vadim Vieru, criticized the Parliament’s decision. According to him, the majority preferred to change the rules instead of obtaining political consensus for the appointment of committee members. “The Constitutional Court is to rule, the law has already been promulgated, and the Government will have to explain to Brussels why it proceeded this way”, the expert noted.

The provisions whereby members of external evaluation committees will be appointed by a vote of 51 deputies, rather than 61, came into force on Friday, with the publication in the Official Gazette of the decree promulgating the law.

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The President of CRJM, Ilie Chirtoaca, explained that the results of the candidate’s evaluation for the position of Prosecutor General are most likely “on the edge”, which could mean either a positive report or a negative one. For this reason, the commission is expected to deliberate for another 30 days.

In his opinion, the evaluation process could realistically be extended by another two to three months, and only after this period will it be possible to know whether the candidate has passed the evaluation or not. Thus, the interim at the General Prosecutor’s Office will be maintained for a longer period, until the completion of the process.

According to the expert, even after the completion of the Vetting Commission’s report, the procedure is not over. “This report must go to the Superior Council of Prosecutors, because they are the ones who ultimately decide whether a candidate passes or not”, Ilie Chirtoaca pointed out.

At the same time, the head of CRJM reiterated that the integrity of those who hold public positions is essential, and any doubt about it must be thoroughly checked and reported. “If the person is not honest, they have no place in public office. I say let’s not rush, let’s see what the commission says”, added the expert.

The Prosecutors’ Evaluation Commission announced on Monday that it has failed to complete the evaluation of the ethical and financial integrity of the acting Prosecutor General, Alexandru Machidon. The members of the Evaluation Panel A did not reach a consensus on the specialized report, and the document is to be approved by a majority vote of the Commission members, including at least three international members, within 30 working days.

The first hearing of the interim general prosecutor took place on December 10th. At that time, the Prosecutor Evaluation Commission requested clarifications regarding the acquisition of a 65 square meter apartment in December 2018, for 674 thousand lei. The apartment had been previously purchased in 2016 by the former owner at a similar price, and after partial repairs, it was sold to Machidon at the same price. The prosecutor explained that the dwelling was partially renovated and furnished when purchased, and the additional work was done gradually, from his declared income.

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At a press conference at IPN, Carolina Bagrin, program director at CRJM, said that the increase in the number of complaints does not necessarily reflect a sudden rise in human rights violations at the national level, but rather a return to the statistical levels recorded before 2024, which marked the lowest number of complaints in the last decade.

According to Carolina Bagrin, relative to its population, Moldova continues to record a high level of applications to the ECHR. Our country ranks fourth among the member states of the Council of Europe in terms of the number of complaints, with Moldovan citizens addressing the Court 4.6 times more frequently than the European average.

At the end of last year, Moldova had 1,141 pending applications before the ECHR, which represents 2.2% of the total cases on the Court’s docket. From this perspective, the state ranks ninth among the member countries of the Council of Europe, a level considered high, added the program head of CRJM.

In turn, the president of the Legal Resources Centre of Moldova, Ilie Chirtoacă, stated that, since 1997, the year of Moldova’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights, and until 2025, the ECHR has found 885 violations in cases concerning the Republic of Moldova. According to the head of the LRJM, the most frequent violations remain constant over the years and mainly concern the right to a fair trial and the prohibition of torture.

According to the analytical note, last year, the ECHR registered 31,800 applications, 10% more than in 2024. Most applications concerned Turkey (6,743), Poland (3,303), Italy (2,421), Ukraine (2,299) and Romania (1,962).

Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider themselves targeted in the news reports based on the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.

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Promo-LEX and CRJM draw attention to the fact that the diplomatic efforts undertaken so far have not yielded concrete results regarding the release and repatriation of the professor. “The mere sending of diplomatic requests, without tangible results, does not satisfy the state’s obligation to ensure “restitutio in integrum”. A political dialogue at the highest level is necessary to ensure the release and repatriation of Özdil, not just bureaucratic procedures, which have proven ineffective in recent years,” declare the representatives of the two organizations.

At the same time, organizations also signal the procrastination of criminal procedures in the Republic of Moldova. The files concerning the investigation of illegal extraditions are progressing slowly, and the lack of definitive decisions risks leading to the prescription of the facts. According to Promo-LEX, the case in which the former SIS chief, Vasile Botnari, is targeted is still ongoing, and court sessions have been repeatedly postponed, without a clear outcome.

The organizations also mention that, although in 2025 prosecutors identified that several officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Information and Security Service were involved in the extradition operation, to date no new person has been charged. Promo-LEX and CRJM draw attention to the fact that the parliamentary control mechanism over the SIS remains non-functional. The regulation of the parliamentary subcommittee is in the process of being drafted, even though the law has been adopted for over two years.

The organizations recommend the authorities to treat Yasin Özdil’s repatriation as a political priority in the dialogue with the Turkish side and to urgently finalize the retrial of the former SIS director’s case, applying a punishment proportional to the severity of the human rights violation. At the same time, a change in legislation is requested, so that the decision to declassify documents in cases concerning human rights should fall to the courts, not the Information and Security Service.

At the same time, Promo-LEX and CRJM emphasize the need to provide medical and psychological support to repatriated victims, in order to facilitate their reintegration.

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“Justice remains the foundation of all reforms. Without an independent and credible justice system, Moldova cannot have a European future”, declared Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu. According to the premier, citizens deserve a justice system they can trust – independent, swift, incorruptible and accessible. The Prime Minister added that justice reform is not just a political promise, but also a state obligation.

“In recent years, we have strengthened the independence of judges through constitutional changes, we have eliminated political influence from the SCM and we have launched an external evaluation of integrity and the reform of the Supreme Court of Justice”, added Alexandru Munteanu.

The EU Ambassador to Moldova, Iwona Piorko, emphasized that justice remains the key area where the most efforts are needed to complete the integration process, and that the European Union will continue to support these initiatives. Iwona Piorko noted the intensification of justice reforms in recent years and progress in the fight against corruption.

“Moldova is at a crossroads: on one hand, it has a history marked by corruption and illegality; on the other hand, it is the future where justice is not a privilege, but a right for all”, said the ambassador.

In turn, the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Fred Duijn, emphasized that efforts to improve the situation in justice and the fight against corruption depend on the will of the citizens and the political class.

The reforms were announced by the president of CRJM, Ilie Chirtoaca. He highlighted the importance of the authorities’ collaboration with civil society, on which the success and irreversibility of the reforms depend.

The seventh edition of the “Justice Reform and Anti-Corruption” Forum kicked off today in Chisinau, a two-day professional gathering. Throughout the event, authorities, national and international experts, representatives of civil society and development partners discuss strategies for strengthening the rule of law, the digitalization of justice and other current topics.

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According to Nicolae Panfil, head of the Promo-LEX election observation mission, the election campaign was dominated by polarizing rhetoric and manipulative online campaigns. “The electoral discourse exploited fears of war, to the detriment of discussions focused on public programs and policies”, said the head of Promo-LEX at a press conference at IPN.

Nicolae Panfil noted that this election campaign has significantly moved into the online environment, which is a poorly regulated space, vulnerable to manipulation and misinformation. “In addition, unauthorized surveys with manipulative content have circulated unhindered on digital platforms, influencing the national electoral climate”, added Nicolae Panfil.

Civil society organizations have criticized the use of state resources in favor of certain electoral competitors, through the mobilization of public institution employees and the use of state infrastructure for campaigning, which has created the perception of an abusive involvement of the authorities.

At the same time, the Secretary General of the National Youth Council, Tudor Arnaut, drew attention to the restrictions imposed on voters from the Transnistrian region. According to Arnaut, the relocation of some polling stations and the reduction of ballots have restricted the right to vote and have raised suspicions about the fairness of the process. “We demand more transparency in this process”, added the Secretary of the NYC.

Gender equality was another challenge of this election, experts noted. Although the 40% quota is provided by law, the new Parliament will admit 37 women, a decrease compared to previous legislatures.

In turn, Polina Panainte, secretary of CALC and program director at the ADEPT Association, pointed out that the legislative changes recently adopted have brought new tools to combat electoral corruption and stricter rules for the transparency of competitors. “However, the adoption of these changes after the election date was set has affected the stability of the legal framework. In addition, decisions regarding the non-registration of some electoral competitors, motivated even on the basis of confidential information, have raised questions about the transparency and prerogatives of some institutions in the electoral process”, Panainte stated.

The reflection of the campaign in the mass media also raised balance issues, as emphasized by Petru Macovei, the director of the Independent Press Association. He pointed out that in certain cases, there were manifestations of political partisanship and violations of the provisions of the media and audiovisual services code. “The 2025 campaign was characterized by an intense use of online platforms and social networks, which have become the main channel of communication, mobilization, and promotion for parties and candidates, but online there were also multiple, extensive disinformation and fake campaigns, which aimed to undermine trust in public institutions and exploit fears related to security and war,” explained the head of the API.

On the other hand, Ilie Chirtoaca, the president of the Legal Resources Centre of Moldova, emphasized the role of institutions in handling complaints. According to the lawyer, the communication of institutions on cases of electoral corruption has not always been coherent, fueling a perception of panic and the impression of politicized coordination of the process. “The deficiencies in the uniform application of the law, unequal communication and insufficient transparency of some sensitive decisions have remained major challenges for strengthening trust and the integrity of the electoral process”, Ilie Chirtoaca further stated.

CALC recommends the authorities to ensure a predictable and transparent framework for the upcoming elections, consistently applying the law and strengthening equal access for competitors. The organization also emphasizes the responsibility of political actors and the press to respect democratic values and contribute to a fair electoral climate.

Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider themselves targeted in the news reports based on the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.

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At a press conference at IPN, CALC secretary Polina Panainte, program director at ADEPT Association, said that the monitoring process was carried out in collaboration with 31 member organizations of the Coalition, in accordance with international standards. According to the Coalition’s findings, the electoral process was administered correctly by the Central Election Commission, in compliance with the deadlines set by law and state institutions demonstrated resilience in the face of attempts at external interference. The election also marked the first application of the new Electoral Code, in the context of important legislative changes.

However, Polina Panainte drew attention to some controversial decisions regarding the non-registration of certain electoral competitors, made on the basis of confidential information, which has raised concerns about the transparency of the electoral process.

The President of the Legal Resources Centre of Moldova, Ilie Chirtoaca, stated that the electoral authorities have made visible efforts for the smooth conduct of the election. According to him, the CEC organized public meetings and transparently published the adopted decisions, while the General Inspectorate of Police acted firmly in documenting offenses and cases of electoral corruption. However, Ilie Chirtoaca emphasized that the application of the law was not always uniform. In some cases, differences in treatment were reported in the management of public assemblies, as well as in the way of sanctioning the use of administrative resources.

Nicolae Panfil, the head of the Promo-LEX Election Observation Mission, noted that, although the freedom of assembly and expression was generally respected, the quality of political competition suffered due to polarizing discourse and misinformation. According to him, the electoral campaign was marked by rhetoric centered on the fear of war and the use of administrative resources, factors that significantly diminished the pluralistic character of the electoral debates.

At the same time, Nicolae Panfil noted that the CEC has shown a stronger commitment to ensuring the integrity of the electoral process, applying proportional sanctions and adopting decisions to exclude formations that did not meet transparency standards. “The financial discipline of the electoral competitors was noticeably higher compared to previous elections and the consistent application of reporting obligations represents a significant step forward. However, electoral corruption phenomena have become more sophisticated and harder to document”, explained Nicolae Panfil.

Regarding the media coverage of the electoral campaign, Petru Macovei, the director of the Association of Independent Press, stated that the audiovisual legislation has been harmonized with European standards, and the Audiovisual Council has carried out extensive checks to verify compliance with the norms. “Some television stations have ensured fair access to all electoral competitors in news and broadcasts, but others have chosen to predominantly reflect the activity of state institutions, thus diminishing the visibility of some candidates”, Petru Macovei pointed out.

Tudor Arnaut, the General Secretary of the National Youth Council, drew attention to the measures adopted in support of the diaspora and the youth. In his opinion, the 30% increase in the number of voting sections abroad, along with the implementation of postal voting in several states, were significant steps towards strengthening the voting rights of citizens in the diaspora.

Additionally, Tudor Arnaut emphasized that, although the scrutiny was marked by significant progress in facilitating voting access for the diaspora, young people and people with disabilities, there are still gaps in terms of gender equality and effective voter participation.

The Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections appreciates that the scrutiny of September 28 reflected both the democratic resilience of institutions and the persistence of some structural vulnerabilities. CALC emphasizes the ongoing need for electoral reforms, with the aim of consolidating a more transparent, equitable, and predictable framework for future elections.

Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider themselves targeted in the news reports based on the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.

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