The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) has issued a statement clarifying the situation of prosecutors assigned to the PA, explaining why prosecutor Petru Iarmaliuc, who was investigating Igor Dodon’s case, no longer works for the institution, information previously confirmed by the PA to NewsMaker.                 

On July 31, 2023, the Parliament voted in the second reading Law No. 200, amending some normative acts, which changed the procedure for delegating prosecutors to specialized prosecutor’s offices. Specifically, delegated prosecutors are required to meet the conditions for appointment as a prosecutor in the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, including a minimum of 4 years of service.                        

At the time this amendment entered into force, ten delegated prosecutors from other prosecutors’ offices were working in the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, two of whom have more than 3 years but less than 4 years of activity, including Petru Iarmaliuc. For these reasons, after consultation with the Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor, the Prosecutor General stopped the delegation of these prosecutors who do not meet the new legislative conditions.                       

“The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office will ensure the appointment of other prosecutors to cover the responsibilities on the files that were under the management of these prosecutors. But this legislative amendment hampers the work of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, which has always relied on the effort and work done by young prosecutors delegated from other prosecutors’ offices who have not been active for 4 years, but who are often appointed by competition after a period of delegation during which they gain experience and training for the position of anti-corruption prosecutor. The five anti-corruption prosecutors appointed last autumn after a competition were all young prosecutors delegated to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office from other prosecution offices,” the PA explains.                   

According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office, one solution to increase the number of candidates who qualify to become part of the PA team by function or by delegation would be to amend the law on prosecution to allow prosecutors with 3 years’ seniority to apply for these positions. “If we want a reformed Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office with a new reputation and energy, we must promote mechanisms to build this institution,” the institution concludes.    

Earlier, the press service of the PA confirmed to NewsMaker the information that the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office will appoint another prosecutor to handle the case against Igor Dodon.