The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) announces that on Friday, February 3, prosecutors ordered the recognition and hearing as suspects of former Moldovan President Igor Dodon, his wife Galina Dodon, and the doctor who made the “false medical document” on the basis of which the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) allowed the former head of state and his wife to leave the country.

“Thus, the doctor is suspected of making and holding false official documents granting rights. At the same time, the ex-president of Moldova together with his wife are suspected in the possession and use of the false official document granting rights,” the PA reports.

On the basis of this document, Igor Dodon asked the Supreme Court of Justice to allow him to leave the country, the same request was submitted by Galina Dodon.

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office states that on 26 January 2023, it initiated criminal proceedings for the commission of the offence provided for in Article 361(2)(b) of the Criminal Code – “Making, possession, sale or use of false official documents, prints, stamps or seals, actions committed by two or more persons”.

The PA announced on 26 January that it had filed a request with the CSJ to replace the measure of an obligation not to leave the country with house arrest for Igor Dodon, given that, according to the PA, the doctor who signed the document confirming the need for Igor Dodon to travel abroad stated that “the patient in question is not known to him and that he had affixed the stamp to the Send-Extras at the request of a colleague”.

The PA reported that the doctor said during the hearings that “the request came from his colleague who always examines the Dodon family and is in close relations with them, being the wife of a councillor of the Chisinau Municipal Council, a member of the faction of the party to which Igor Dodon belonged”.

Meanwhile, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon, who was due to leave for Romania from 28 January 2023 to 5 February 2023, has announced that he has cancelled his departure.

“Due to the prohibition by the prosecutor on the case that the wife should accompany us, as well as pressure and persecution of the doctors who issued the prescription for rehabilitation, we decided to cancel the trip. We will look for alternative treatment solutions in our country,” Dodon explained.

On 19 January 2023, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) granted the request of Igor Dodon’s lawyers for permission to leave Moldova from 28 January 2023 to 5 February 2023 to provide post Covid-19 rehabilitation treatment in Romania for the former president’s son. According to the PA, the former president’s lawyers have attached a number of documents that would confirm the need to travel abroad, including the Reference-Extras No 0163158 of 18 January 2023.

On January 6, 2023, the judges of the CSJ admitted the prosecutor’s request to extend the term of the preventive measure – an order not to leave the country for another 60 days, regarding Igor Dodon, accused of committing the crime of passive bribery, organization and acceptance of political party financing from a “criminal organization”.

Igor Dodon was released from house arrest by decision of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) on 18 November. The former head of state was then placed under judicial control for 60 days and banned from leaving the country.