On April 10, the Chisinau Appeals Court increased the punishment for Irina Baglai, who is charged in the case of MP corruption, from two years’ probation to eight years in jail. It also upheld the sentence of 11 years and four months in jail given to the other accused, Vitalie Burlacu. The case of MP corruption was started in March 2014. During an operation performed by the National Anticorruption Center, former police officer Vitalie Burlacu and his girlfriend Irina Baglai were caught in the act of transmitting US$250,000 to an intermediary. The money was to be passed on to an MP for making this leave the government coalition. Later, another half a million euros was found in a safe deposit box in a bank in Chisinau.

A woman aged 44 and her child of only five months died in a house fire in Danu village of Glodeni district on April 10. The fire happened in the house of one of the eldest sons of the woman. The man’s family, which has two children and is expecting the third, remained without a shelter. The house was disconnected from the electric power supply because of debts and the fire most probably started from a burning candle. 

The Centru-based Chisinau Court on April 10 issued warrants for the arrest of eight persons suspected of planning to kill the president of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc. Thus, the eight suspects will spend the next 30 days in Penitentiary No. 13 in Chisinau. Prosecutor Vitalie Busuioc told the press that the police made progress in the investigation, but cannot provide details. He said only that US$100,000 was transmitted to the killers in Ukraine and an equal amount was to be paid afterward. The wiretaps show a bonus was to be offered after the murder. It is not yet known how much money the suspects arrested in Moldova were to get. Last weekend, 17 persons were arrested in Ukraine and Moldova on suspicion that they formed part of a criminal group that planned the murder of the Democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc.

On April 11, 19 persons, including public servants and businessmen, were arrested on suspicion that they organized, by co-participation, dubious tender contests within investment projects with the aim of favoring particular business entities. There were started 12 criminal cases over passive corruption, influence peddling, misuse of power and abuse of authority. The arrested persons face up to 15 years in prison.

The organization and holding of the consultative referendum on September 24 this year will cost the state 74.7 million lei. The Central Election Commission on April 11 approved the expenditure estimate for the referendum. The referendum with include four questions. The people will be asked if they want the law that makes the repayment of the money embezzled from the banking system their burden to be abrogated, if they want the President to possess more powers to dissolve Parliament and announce early legislative elections, if they agree to decrease the number of MPs from 101 to 71, and if they want the History of Moldova course to be taught in schools.

Unaffiliated MPs Iurie Leanca and Valeriu Giletski on April 12 announced the creation of the European People’s Group that will be led by the latter. The group also includes Stefan Creanga, Eugen Carpov, Octavian Grama, George Mocanu, Aliona Gota, Mihaela Spatari, and Simion Grishchuk. “The main objective of the European People’s Group will be to support and accelerate measures to promote the path to European integration and to implement the reforms assumed through the Association Agreement with the European Union,” Iurie Leanca said in a press briefing.

Ex-head of Criuleni district Vitalie Rotaru was arrested on suspicion that he appropriated 1.7 million lei within European investment projects. Searches were performed at his home in the morning of April 13. A criminal case was started over passive corruption. Rotaru faces up to 15 years in jail.

The inhabitants of Sangera town and of Dobrogea and Revaca communes that form part of the town on May 21 will take part in a local referendum on the building of a hazardous waste management center on the outskirts of Sangera. The date of referendum was set by the Central Election Commission on April 14.

The Republic of Moldova will get the observer status for the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The Presidents of the five member states of the Union pleaded for this at the meeting of the EEU Supreme Council that was held in Bishkek on April 14. The announcement was made by President Igor Dodon. He noted that this decision does not mean that from today the Republic of Moldova will be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, but this status enables to know more about the functioning principles of the EEU and offers new opportunities to national business entities. “It is the fate of the Republic of Moldova to be on friendly terms both with the West and the East, keeping and strengthening its neutrality and statehood.

Selection by Sabina Rebeja, IPN