Moldovan court lifts former president Dodon's travel ban

CHISINAU. Sept 14 (Interfax) - The Supreme Court of Moldova overturned a ruling on Thursday that prevented the republic's former president Igor Dodon from leaving the country.

The court thereby dismissed an appeal from the prosecutor for a restraining measure in the form of "judicial control" to be extended for another 60 days.

Dodon was arrested on May 24, 2022, on suspicion of passive corruption, bribery, and organizing and accepting funding for a political party from a criminal group. The so-called "package" case against him was prompted by a video recording showing the ex-president accepting a black package from Democratic party chairman Vlad Plahotniuc in 2019. Prosecutors claim Dodon may have accepted between $600,000 and $1 million for the upkeep of his Party of Socialists.

On November 18, 2022, the Supreme Court ordered Dodon to be released from house arrest, but banned him from traveling abroad. The ban was regularly extended by the court.