“As long as Alexandru Pinzari has not been located at the known address, we do not exclude the possibility that he may have left the territory of the Republic of Moldova through the region on the left bank of the Dniester,” declared the minister.

As for Valeriu Cojocaru, the former head of Directorate 5, who was also sentenced in absentia to three years in prison, the minister pointed out that, according to information previously made public, he is in Hungary.

The General Inspectorate of Police has sent a request for international search to Interpol for Alexandru Pinzari and Valeriu Cojocaru, however, so far no response has been received from the institution.

The two were sentenced to three years in prison each, being found guilty of abuse of power and abuse of office in the case of fictitious employment at the former Directorate 5 of the National Investigation Inspectorate.

In the same case, a similar sentence was also received by Dorin Damir, the president of the FEA association and godson of the former democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc. Shortly after the decision was pronounced, he was arrested and taken to Penitentiary No. 13 to serve his sentence, until a final decision is made.

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According to Valeriu Cojocaru, he is legally residing in Germany, where he has a permanent place of living and is employed, and the German authorities are informed about his situation. He also states that he left the Republic of Moldova with the court’s permission and that he is not hiding from the Moldovan authorities.

The former head of Directorate 5 explained that he decided to apply for political asylum to protect himself from what he calls illegal acts of revenge by the Moldovan law enforcement agencies. According to Cojocaru, the criminal case in which he is involved would be politicized, and the conviction would be illegal.

Valeriu Cojocaru has appealed to international organizations, including Interpol and Europol, as well as to EU authorities, to examine the actions of the Moldovan authorities, considering them unfounded.

On Monday, January 19, the former head of the IGP, Alexandru Pînzari, Valeriu Cojocaru, and Dorin Damir, the president of the FEA association, were sentenced to three years in prison each, having been found guilty of abuse of power and abuse of office in the case of fictitious hiring at the former Directorate 5 of the National Investigation Inspectorate.

Shortly after the decision was announced, Dorin Damir was arrested and taken to Penitentiary No. 13 to serve his sentence, pending a final decision.

The General Inspectorate of Police has sent a request to Interpol for an international search announcement for the former head of the GIP, Alexandru Pînzari, and Valeriu Cojocaru, former head of Directorate 5.

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The IGP representatives have stated for IPN that the packages have been sent to the central headquarters of Interpol, and the international authority will review the request and will subsequently inform the institution about the decision made.

At the beginning of the week, Alexandru Pinzari and Valeriu Cojocaru were sentenced to three years in prison each, being found guilty of abuse of power and abuse of office in the case of fictitious hiring at the former Directorate 5 of the National Investigation Inspectorate.

After the conviction, Valeriu Cojocaru posted on social networks a video in which he stated that he is not evading the law enforcement agencies, even though he was in Hungary. He also said that he will challenge the decision.

In the same case, a similar sentence was also given to Dorin Damir, the president of the FEA association and godson of the former democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc. Shortly after the decision was pronounced, he was arrested and taken to Penitentiary No. 13 to serve his sentence, until a final decision is made.

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Valeriu Cojocaru stated that he is in Nagylak, Hungary, on a business trip and declares that he is willing to cooperate with law enforcement, to communicate his location, and to use all legal means to prove his innocence.

He announced that, together with his lawyers, he will analyze the sentence and will appeal it. At the same time, he maintains that his case would have a political character and appeals to international organizations and law enforcement institutions not to be used for political purposes. The source further specifies that he learned from the press about the sentence pronounced in his name.

The former head of Directorate 5 claims that as early as 2024 he requested the court to examine the criminal case in his absence, citing reasons related to starting a business abroad and the need to be permanently present at its headquarters. According to Cojocaru, the request was granted and the court would have allowed both his non-participation in court sessions and leaving the territory of Moldova whenever necessary.

Dorin Damir, Alexandru Pinzari and Valeriu Cojocaru were sentenced on Monday, January 19, to three years in prison each, after being found guilty of abuse of power and abuse of office in the case of fictitious employment at the former Directorate 5 of the National Investigation Inspectorate. The decision was handed down by the Chisinau Court, Buiucani branch. Dorin Damir, president of the FEA association and godson of former Democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc, was detained shortly after the court’s ruling. As for Alexandru Pinzari, former head of the General Police Inspectorate, the authorities have not provided any information about his whereabouts.

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At the same time, Valeriu Cojocaru, former head of Directorate 5, is said to have left the country in November 2025. As for Alexandru Pînzari, former head of the General Police Inspectorate, authorities have not yet been able to provide information about his whereabouts.

Dorin Damir, Alexandru Pînzari and Valeriu Cojocaru were sentenced on Monday, January 19, to three years in prison each, being found guilty of abuse of power and job misuse in the case of fictitious hiring at the former Directorate 5 of the National Investigation Inspectorate. The decision was made by the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters.

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Regarding the three, preventive arrest was ordered until a final decision is made and a search announced for the execution of the sentence, as the three defendants did not appear for the pronouncement of the verdict.

Alexandru Pinzari, former head of the General Police Inspectorate, Valeriu Cojocaru, former head of Directorate 5, and Dorin Damir, president of the FEA association and godson of the former democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc, are accused of abuse of power and dereliction of duty.

According to prosecutors, Dorin Damir would have been fictitiously employed in Section No. 1 “K” of the former Directorate 5, initially as a chief inspector, later as a commissioner, without showing up for work, but benefiting from a state salary. The investigation shows that the employment would have been facilitated by the former bosses at the time, Alexandru Pînzari and Valeriu Cojocaru.

Initially, the employment was justified by an alleged “secret mission” to document Vlad Plahotniuc, but prosecutors argue that this was just a pretext, and the actions were illegal and harmed the state budget.

The defendants pleaded not guilty during the trial. The sentence can be appealed to the Court of Appeals.

Direction 5 – The Special Operations Directorate of INI – was disbanded in 2019, in the context of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reform. The structure was considered one of the most influential and controversial within the police, being accused of being used for political purposes, for surveillance, intimidation, and commissioned cases.

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The pronouncement of the verdict at the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters, is scheduled for Monday, at 02:45 PM.

According to prosecutors, Dorin Damir would have been fictitiously employed in Section no. 1 “K” of the former Directorate 5, with the position of chief inspector, later commissioner, without showing up for work, but benefiting from a state salary. The investigation shows that the employment would have been facilitated by the former bosses at that time, Alexandru Pinzari and Valeriu Cojocaru.

Initially, the employment was justified by an alleged “secret mission” to document Vlad Plahotniuc, however, the prosecutors argue that this was just a pretext, and the actions were illegal and harmed the state budget.

Alexandru Pinzari, Valeriu Cojocaru, and Dorin Damir plead not guilty.

Direction 5 – The Special Operations Directorate of INI was disbanded in 2019, in the context of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reform. The structure was known as one of the most influential and controversial directorates within the police, being accused of being used for political purposes, for surveillance, intimidation, and ordered cases.

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