26 May 2022 18:42

Court places former Moldovan President Dodon under house arrest

CHISINAU. May 26 (Interfax) - Chisinau's Ciocana sector court has placed former Moldovan President Igor Dodon under house arrest for 30 days, dismissing prosecutors' motion for arrest at a pretrial detention facility.

The same court ruled that Dodon's wife's brother Petru Merineanu, who was detained with Dodon, would be held under arrest at a pretrial detention facility for the next 30 days, an Interfax correspondent said.

The court rulings may be appealed within three days at the Chisinau Court of Appeals. Prosecutor Petru Iarmaliuc said that prosecutors would appeal the court's decision.

Dodon was detained on Tuesday evening after extended searches at his home, offices, parents' home and other premises. The previous day, prosecutors charged him with financing a political party by a criminal organization, for which he faces at least three years in prison, high treason (facing at least 12 years in prison), and illicit enrichment, which is penalized with up to seven years in prison.