Three candidates aspire to the post of chief prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS). These are former prosecutor Andrei Matsko, who now practices as a lawyer, and prosecutors Eugen Rurac and Sergiu Russu, with the latter holding now the disputed post on an interim basis. All the three candidates submitted the files on the last contest day, January 10, IPN reports.

The Superior Council of Prosecutors in its December 30 meeting was to constitute a commission for the pre-selection of candidates for the post of chief prosecutor of PCCOCS and to nominate its members. But the meeting was put off as a quorum was not present.

Contacted by IPN for details, the head of the Council’s Protocol, International and Public Relations Service Eugeniu Roșca said the date on which the Council will be convened again will be posted on the institution’s website.

Under the regulations concerning the organization and holding of the public contest, the candidates for the post of chief prosecutor of PCCOCS are pre-selected by a special commission constituted ad-hoc by the Superior Council of Prosecutors. This consists of a person designated by the President, a person nominated by the Ministry of Justice and three persons assigned by the Superior Council of Prosecutors.

The contest to choose a candidate for the post of chief prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases was initiated by the Superior Council of Prosecutors on November 10. The candidates need to have at least ten years’ professional experience in the field of human rights gained in Moldova’s jurisdiction or in foreign jurisdictions, including as part of international organizations, at least four years of which as a judge, prosecutor, lawyer or investigation officer. They also must have an irreproachable reputation and be free from any reasonable suspicion about the commission of acts of corruption.