Magistrates of the Chisinau Ciocana court on Thursday, July 21, admitted the prosecutors’ request and ordered the extension of the preventive measure in the form of house arrest for 30 days for former Moldovan President Igor Dodon.

“The court extended the house arrest for another 30 days, fully accepting the prosecutors’ request. The previous prohibitions were maintained. We presented six new pieces of evidence. We will study the conclusion and we will appeal against this court order (…),” said prosecutor Petru Iarmaliuc.

According to Prosecutor Mariana Cherpec, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG), the magistrates in extending the house arrest warrant maintained the same restrictions from the previous warrant, although the prosecutors requested the application of the restriction expressly provided for in Article 188 para. (3) (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, i.e. the restriction of telephone calls, receiving and sending mail and the use of other means of communication.

“Given that the prosecutors’ request was rejected by the investigating judge, the anti-corruption prosecutors are going to challenge the court’s decision with an appeal to the Chisinau Court of Appeal,” Cherpec said.

Socialist Igor Dodon is suspected of passive bribery, acceptance of political party financing by a criminal organisation, treason and illicit enrichment.

On 29 June, the Chisinau Court of Appeal extended his house arrest for 30 days.

Dodon was detained on 24 May after anti-corruption prosecutors carried out ten raids for more than ten hours at several locations owned by Dodon and his relatives.