Former defense minister Valeriu Pasat has told the news agency Info-Prim Neo the first thing he will do when he is able to return to Moldova is to visit his mother and then confer with his lawyers before being heard by the prosecutors. After numerous trials that began in 2005, and almost two years in detention during the trials, Pasat took refuge in Moscow. He complained recently to the new prosecutor general that he isn't able to return to Moldova because his passport expired in 2008 and the Moldovan authorities have denied him a new one. The minister also asked the Prosecutor General's Office to speed up the investigation concerning the penal proceeding initiated against him in 2006 and send them to court. Today the Prosecutor General's Office said it solicited the Ministry of Information Technology to issue a new passport to the former defense minister so that he could come to Moldova for prosecutorial hearings. “I can't wait to see these proceedings that brought shame to the country end once and for all”, said Pasat, adding that he relies greatly on the new prosecutor general for a speedy resolution of his case. Pasat was arrested on 11 March 2005 and has since faced numerous charges, including contraband with armament and the organization of a coup “by order of the Kremlin”.