The Chisinau Court of Appeals has rejected a request from Igor Dodon’s lawyers to review his house arrest preventive measure.

The former president appeared in court to cheers from a crowd of supporters. He told them and reporters that the case against him was “an attempt by the current government to silence” him. He claimed that prosecutors received orders to ban him from using the telephone and posting to social media, suggesting such actions were futile anyway, since he could communicate with the public through his lawyers.

Dodon faces charges of accepting illegal financing for his party from a criminal group, high treason and unjust enrichment, among others. Describing the case as “politically motivated”, the former president denies any wrongdoing.