Confiscated criminal assets to be used for people's benefit in Moldova; commission for assets' management starts work

Assets confiscated from criminal activities will be used for public interest projects and needs. The commission that will decide how the properties are used held its first meeting today. This is a necessary step toward implementing the mechanism through which confiscated assets are used for the benefit of people and communities.

During the meeting, Justice Minister Vladislav Cojuhari emphasized that this was an important step in strengthening the state policy on recovering and putting criminal assets to use, as well as an essential stage in the effective application of the regulatory framework developed by the Justice Ministry.

“Fighting corruption and organized crime is not limited to investigating offenses, holding those responsible accountable and confiscating illegally got assets. It is equally important that recovered resources return to the benefit of society. In this way, the results of efforts to combat crime are transformed into tangible benefits for people and communities, especially for individuals and groups in need of support,” said Vladislav Cojuhari.

During the first meeting, the head of the commission for the management of confiscated assets was elected, and general aspects regarding its organization and operation were discussed.

“Through this commission, we are not merely seeking to formally establish a collegial body, but to initiate work that must produce concrete results. We need a functional commission, procedures that are understood and applied uniformly, effective institutional cooperation, and, above all, decisions based on genuine needs and on the benefits that the use of these assets can bring to society,” Vladislav Cojuhari noted.

In last August, the government approved the regulation establishing how the commission operates and the procedure through which confiscated assets may be transferred for social or public interest purposes. It implements the Law on the use of confiscated assets for social or public interest purposes, which entered into force at the beginning of this year.

Information about assets that may be used for social or public interest purposes will be published by the Criminal Assets Recovery Agency. Thus, the process will begin with a public list of assets, enabling interested individuals and organizations to learn about eligible assets and submit applications for their use. The commission will review applications through a transparent mechanism and decide to whom and for what purpose an asset may be transferred.

The use of assets confiscated from criminal activities for social purposes is an objective established in the Reforms’ Agenda related to the Growth Plan for 2025–2027, as well as a commitment undertaken by Moldova as part of the European integration process.