Despite being under arrest for influence peddling, Balti's Deputy Mayor, Tatiana Dubițkaia, has been kept in office. The majority of elected officials in the municipal council refused to vote on her dismissal, IPN reports.

An extraordinary session was convened at the initiative of Mayor Alexandr Petkov, after Dubitkaia was charged with several counts of influence peddling, passive and active corruption.

The local councilors examined the mayor's proposal today but left without making a decision.

Municipal council member Vitalie Nogali mentioned that a decision on the dismissal of Tatiana Dubitkaia could not be made because the draft act did not comply with official regulations and was legally incorrect.

In response, Balti’s legal department head, Vitalie Balan, clarified that the document was drafted in accordance with all legal norms and added that the law allows the mayor to dismiss deputies without explanation.

PAS councilors in Balti stated that they had repeatedly asked for Tatiana Dubițkaia's resignation, but without any results.

Earlier, Mayor Alexandr Petkov stated that he would offer full support to the law enforcement agencies for a swift investigation into the case and would initiate the dismissal of the arrested deputy mayor. CNA officers had detained Deputy Mayor Tatiana Dubitkaia and Deputy Director of the Education Department of Balti, Olga Iurcenco, in a case of influence peddling and corruption.