Corruption case opened against former President Dodon in Moldova

CHISINAU. May 18 (Interfax) - The Moldovan Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case on suspicion of corruption against honorary chairman of the Party of Socialists and former President Igor Dodon, spokesperson of the Prosecutor General's Office Mariana Cherpec said.

"Today, on May 18, acting Prosecutor General Dumitru Robu ordered that a criminal case be initiated due to the videos posted in the public space in the summer of 2020," Cherpec told reporters on Wednesday.

The criminal case was based on video footage from the June 2019 meeting between Dodon and then-Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc. In the video, which was filmed in the office of the Democratic Party, it can be seen that Plahotniuc hands Dodon a large black package, which they call a "bag". It is clear from the conversation that the "bag" contains money intended to fund the Party of Socialists, then led by Dodon.

The videos were made public in 2020 by deputy Iurie Renita. At the end of June 2020, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office refused to open a criminal case based on the videos, noting that "the inquiry did not reveal elements of a crime."

The previous day, the Chisinau Court of Appeals overturned the decision of the Chisinau court, which in 2019 declined to launch a criminal inquiry against Dodon, as well as an order to that effect by the former deputy head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Vasile Levitchi.