Moldovan president says convicts flee before sentencing

President Maia Sandu is calling for a revision of the regulatory framework, in order to prevent cases of evasion from serving sentences, including by simplifying the procedure for declaring a person wanted right after the pronouncement of the sentence. At a news conference, the head of state drew attention to an acute problem in the judicial system: the escape of some convicted individuals before the pronouncement of the sentence.

The president said that this particular issue was intensely discussed in society: ‘’people who are awaiting their sentence leave the territory controlled by constitutional authorities before its pronouncement’’ and the Transnistrian region is used to evade serving the sentence, Maia Sandu noted. According to the head of state, the current procedures for declaring someone wanted are ineffective:

‘’The wanted procedures are ineffective, as they involve timeframes that endanger the possibility of locating the person, thereby losing the chance to bring them to justice. In the context, I ask the government to improve the existing framework and undertake the necessary legislative measures to prevent convicts from evading the serving of the sentence, including by simplifying the procedure for declaring a person wanted right after sentencing and applying the arrest measure,’’ said Sandu.

The president emphasized the importance of integrity and responsibility in the judicial system:

‘’In the end, I want us to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of honest people in the system – judges and prosecutors who perform their work with responsibility, despite pressures on behalf of corrupt groups. However, it is necessary for all judges and prosecutors to exhibit proper behavior across all institutions and at all levels. Therefore, reforms will continue.’’

Maia Sandu specified that these measures are essential, in order to guarantee the work of the justice, the safety of citizens and the proper enforcement of the law throughout the country.

Recently, Dmitri Constantinov, former president of the People's Assembly of the Autonomous Territorial Unit (UTA) of Gagauzia, sentenced to 12 years in prison for abuse of power and embezzlement, disappeared before his sentence was pronounced. The competent authorities have announced that there are indications he may be located in the left bank of the Dniester and authorities are trying to locate and detain him.

Alexandr Nesterovschi and Irina Lozovan, both deputies convicted for corruption and illegal financing of political parties, might also be on the left bank of Dniester. They too disappeared before or after their sentences were pronounced. Officials have stated that there is no data suggesting that they legally left the territory of  Moldova through crossing points and both might still be on the left bank.