Prosecutor-General’s Office accuses Serafim Urecheanu of delaying penal investigation

The leader of the Our Moldova Alliance (AMN), Serafim Urecheanu, was summoned at the Prosecutor-General’s Office on Tuesday, March 7, in order to be informed about a penal case in which he is accused of misuse of authority. Urecheanu has solicited the postponement of this procedure and the Prosecutor-General’s Office says that this is an „action aimed to halt the finalisation of a penal case and its delivery to the court.” At the same time, the AMN leader accuses the Prosecutor-General’s Office of being used as an arm against him. According to a communication of the Prosecutor-General’s Office, „Urecheanu showed up at the hour indicated by prosecutor and said that he will not participate in this penal investigation or, his lawyer is on a sick leave. In the context, Urecheanu assured that he will announce the possibility to participate in the finalisation of the penal case once his defender recovers himself.” „The Prosecutor-General’s Office considers that this action is aimed to obstruct the process of finalisation of the penal investigation and its delivery to the court,” reads the communication. AMN spokesman Victor Osipov stated to Info-Prim Neo that Urecheanu discussed Tuesday with the prosecutor who conducts the penal investigation and agreed on an amiable way to postpone the procedure until his lawyer will be able to exert his duties. „Under these conditions, the Prosecutor-General’s Office seems to be used as an arm against certain persons,” he said. Osipov noted that Urecheanu called Prosecutor-General Valeriu Balaban immediately after the communication was released, but he was told that the latter has left for a trip. The Prosecutor-General’s Office has filed penal cases against Serafim Urecheanu and other several AMN lawmakers, being accused of violating the legislation. They and representatives of opposition parties and civil society said that these cases have been fabricated at the „political order of the government.” The Communist lawmakers withdrew the parliamentary immunity from 4 AMN lawmakers on autumn 2005. At the same time, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recommended Chisinau in its October 2005 Resolution „to guarantee in legislation that the members of the parliament be able to fulfil their duties without being afraid to lose their mandates from political reasons.”