Arrest warrant for former leader of Moldovan Democratic Party extended for another 30 days

Vladimir Plahotniuc will remain in pre-trial detention for another 30 days, as he is being investigated in the Bank Fraud file. The decision was issued today by the judges of the Chisinau Court, Buiucani branch, who examined the request submitted by the prosecutors.

The former leader of the Moldovan Democratic Party (PDM) did not appear at the hearing, nor did his two lawyers. Under these conditions, Plahotniuc was represented by court-appointed lawyer Victoria Burduja.

The new term of the preventive measure will run as of March 24 till April 23.

“Today, the request on extending the preventive measure in the form of pre-trial detention was examined. We particularly highlighted the risk of hindering the proper conduct of the trial, as well as the risk of evading the court. The court accepted the arguments and ordered the extension of the preventive measure,” said the case prosecutor, Alexandru Cernei.

Lawyer Victoria Burduja noted that the defense had declared for rejecting the prosecutors’ request to extend the arrest.

“The defense considers that, at the current stage, when the judicial investigation has already been completed and we are at the stage of judicial debates, this is a disproportionate measure and no longer justified,” said Victoria Burduja.

On March 23, the stage of judicial debates will begin in the trial.

“At the judicial debates, the sides present their positions orally and may also submit them in written form regarding everything that has taken place during the trial,” said prosecutor Alexandru Cernei.

Vladimir Plahotniuc has been in pre-trial detention since September 25, 2025, after being extradited from Greece, at which time four arrest warrants issued in his name were enforced. He is currently detained in Penitentiary No. 13 of Chisinau and is under investigation in four high-profile criminal cases concerning, among other things, the establishment and leadership of a criminal organization, fraud, money laundering and bank fraud.