Igor Popa, the lawyer for ex-Prime Minister Vlad Filat, had a meeting with the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Valentina Leskaj and Ögmundur Jonásson on June 28. In a press release of the defense, it is said that the meeting centered on the case of MP Vlad Filat and the violations and abuses committed in the trial, IPN reports.

The lawyer informed the European officials about the way in which the court proceedings were conducted, noting that the sentence given to the MP is illegal and political, whose end goal was to remove Vlad Filat from the political arena. “Regretfully, in this period Vlad Filat didn’t enjoy a fair trial. I drew attention to the fact that while he was in remand detention, Vlad Filat had his rights to freedom and safety, the freedom of expression and other rights constantly violated. It is regrettable that we witness injustice in this case. If the MP is not acquitted by the courts of law of Moldova, he will find justice at the ECHR,” said Igor Popa.

He also said the defense does not agree with the judgment passed by the Buiucani Court and will thus challenge it. He voiced hope that the hearings at the Appeals Court will be public and the people as well as the European officials will convince themselves that this case has no connection with the banking frauds, as it is speculated.

The press release also says that the PACE officials noted they will closely monitor the case of MP Vlad Filat.

Ex-Premier Vlad Filat, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to nine years in jail for influence peddling and passive corruption on June 27. The sentence was passed by an ordinary court of law after eight months of remand detention. Vlad Filat was arrested following self-denouncing statements made by the mayor of Orhei town Ilan Shor, who said that he gave US$250 million bribe to the former Premier for particular services.