Former Democrat Leader Vladimir Plahotniuc refuses to testify in Kuliok case

Former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc has refused to testify in Kuliok case. He showed up today at the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) hearing, where he was supposed to be heard as a witness.

The hearing was held behind closed doors. Afterwards, Lucian Rogac, Vladimir Plahotniuc’s lawyer, announced that the former Democrat leader exercised his right not to testify in this case, as he is involved in a related case, which is currently under criminal investigation.


“His health condition did not allow Vladimir Plahotniuc to be escorted, as confirmed by the prison doctor, including through a medical certificate. Vladimir Plahotniuc exercised his right to refuse to testify. This does not mean that he will not be summoned again later,” said Lucian Rogac.


For his part, prosecutor in the case Petru Iarmaliuc stressed that all the evidence in the case is to be examined.


“All discussions and material evidence regarding the financing of the PSRM will be examined. In this regard, during the judicial debates, the prosecution will present its position on what Igor Dodon is alleged to have requested and accepted from Vladimir Plahotniuc. All witness statements are to be examined and assessed with reference to the evidence,” the prosecutor said.


Igor Dodon also appeared at today’s court hearing. He did not comment on Vladimir Plahotniuc’s refusal to testify.

The SCJ has approved the hearing of 36 witnesses out of the 62 proposed by former President Igor Dodon in Kuliok case, in which he is being tried for bribery. Previously, the SCJ also approved the hearing of 11 witnesses proposed by the prosecutors, including former Democrat Vlad Plahotniuc, Serghei Iaralov, former Parliament Speaker Adrian Candu, former Prime Minister Pavel Filip, former Justice Minister Vladimir Cebotari and PAS MP Lilian Carp.

Among the defense witnesses in this case are: Ion Ceban, Artur Gumeniuc, Maxim Lebedinschi, Vasile Șova, Aureliu Ciocoi, Adrian Lebedinschi, Petru Burduja, Ghenadie Mitriuc, Zinaida Greceanîi, Vlad Batrîncea, Corneliu Furculiță, Vladimir Țurcan, Gaic Vartanean, Grigore Uzun and Pavel Voicu.

Kuliok case was resumed in late November 2025, after the panel of judges was changed and the trial practically started from scratch. During the previous proceedings, the court heard 15 witnesses for the prosecution and examined numerous documents and reports.

The criminal investigation in the case known as Kuliok was resumed on May 18, 2022, after the Chișinău Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the Chișinău Court on refusing to initiate criminal proceedings against former President Igor Dodon.

The case is based on a video recording from June 2019, in which Igor Dodon appears alongside Vladimir Plahotniuc and Serghei Iaralov. Previously, Igor Dodon pleaded not guilty and reiterated that the footage was allegedly fabricated.