Former Minister of Transport and member of the Liberal Party Iurie Chirinciuc was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment. He posts photographs of a vacation at the seaside. In the meantime, police representatives say they are awaiting a court order to announce an international search for Chirinciuc.

On Sunday July 21, former Minister of Transport Iurie Chirinciuc posted photos on social media with the caption, “Basarabia without the seaside is like life without oxygen.”

RISE Moldova found that the former minister was in fact on the island of Hydra in Greece, although in the message accompanying his photographs he referred to Basarabia.

The head of Chișinău’s Center District Police Inspectorate, Ion Bilibov, told ZdG that Chirinciuc was not at home when they attempted to arrest him two weeks ago. According to Bilibov, the police have addressed the investigating judge to issue a decision by which Chirinciuc can be announced in international search.

“When we get a decision from the investigating magistrate we will start the search actions. He can be announced in nationwide and worldwide search, and other operative measures can be taken as well,” declared Ion Bilibov

On July 24, the Chișinău Police Department press service informed us that the court has not yet issued a decision on Chirinciuc’ s international search warrant.

ZdG attempted to contact the former Minister Iurie Chirinciuc through social media networks and messaging applications. He did not answer our messages or calls.

At the last hearing of Chriniciuc’s case on May 15, the Chișinău Court of Appeal sentenced him to three and a half years in prison. However, the former minister was absent when the Court delivered its decisions. He left the Court of Appeal headquarters shortly before the judges declared him guilty.

On June 27, the Chişinău Court of Appeal’s decision became enforceable after it was made public on their website. Although more than three weeks have passed since then, Chirinciuc has not yet been detained to serve his sentence.

Anatolie EŞANU, anatolie.esanu@gmail.com