Justice reform is still the “key element” of the transformations that Moldova has to go through. The results of this reform will influence citizens’ trust in the state but also how quickly we will become a member state of the European Union, President Maia Sandu said on Thursday, August 15, at the opening of the Forum for Justice Reform and Fight against Corruption.

“The success of this reform depends on how quickly we can build a strong and inclusive economy. The stakes of this reform are still extremely high (…) Reform has started, but things are happening too slowly. Things are moving slowly, despite the fact that there is political will to create a genuine justice system and build strong institutions to fight corruption (…)”, said the Head of State.

The President said that although “no one in power threatens judges and prosecutors by asking them to take illegal decisions”, “some of them understand freedom as an opportunity to do what they want – to commit abuses”.

“Corrupt people in the system are still the biggest impediment to reform,” Maia Sandu said.

The president says the extraordinary external pre-assessment commission, set up from national and international experts, will help “clean up the system”.

At the same time, Maia Sandu is “concerned” about the delay in the judicial system’s examination of important cases.

“Badly handled files, without clear evidence, thrown out in public, whereby some are brought before the press for show, are damaging. They only give the guilty a chance to evade justice. Justice is done with hard evidence, not scandal,” the President added.

The Forum for Reforming Justice and Fighting Corruption has taken place in Chisinau on 15-16 September. The event was designed as a transparent and professional platform for discussion aimed at identifying the best directions and solutions for reforming justice and fighting corruption in Moldova, say the organisers.