Former head of Moldova's Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office fails to pass vetting

The Panel B of the Commission for Prosecutor’s Evaluation has ruled to suspend the procedure of evaluation of the former head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Veronica Dragalin, following her resignation from the position. Thus, the evaluation report reads that Veronica Dragalin did not pass the vetting.

According to legislation, submitting a resignation request after the expiration of the 20-day period following the notification regarding the initiation of the evaluation, regardless of the reason invoked, is equivalent to failing the evaluation.

The report was sent by the Commission to Veronica Dragalin and the Superior Council of Prosecutors (CSP), which is to issue a decision within 30 days. The text of the report will be published on the official page of the Commission, within 3 days from the date of expiry of the deadline for contesting the CSP's decision.

It is worth to be mentioned that the evaluation of Veronica Dragalin was initiated on May 24, 2024, when she was notified and asked to submit a declaration of assets and personal interests for the last five years, which includes a list of close associates in the judicial system, prosecutor's office and public service, as well as a questionnaire regarding ethical integrity.

Veronica Dragalin submitted the requested documents within the stipulated timeframe. The Commission analyzed the collected information and requested additional clarifications, to which Dragalin responded within approximately a month and a half, invoking personal reasons.

On February 19, 2025, Veronica Dragalin submitted her application on resignation and on March 4, 2025, her mandate ended.

Dragalin was appointed head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office on August 1, 2022, and resigned in the context of the registration of a draft providing for the merger of specialized prosecutor’s offices and the creation of a new institution – the Prosecutor's Office for Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Combating (PACCO).