Moldova's Supreme Court of Justice orders resumption of 'Kulioc' case

The Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) has decided to resume the 'Kulioc' case, in which the former president, current MP Igor Dodon is indicted. The next hearing in this case will take place on November 25.

Contacted by MOLDPRES, Marcel Dumbravan, head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (PA), said that, based on the conclusion received from the CSJ, it was determined that the criminal case involving Igor Dodon should be resumed.

‘’During the judicial investigation, all involved sides are asked to present the updated list of evidence to be examined in court. This conclusion is enforceable, has been personally dispatched, and cannot be appealed. Therefore, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office must comply and execute this conclusion. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for November 25,’’ said Dumbravan.

According to the cited source, the team of anti-corruption prosecutors who will represent the state in this case remains the same, and the procedural requests and objectives stay unchanged.

‘’Each side will provide the updated list of evidence, and the process will continue based on established documents and elements. Additionally, according to the Code of Criminal Procedure, expert reports or connections to other criminal cases, if maintained through valid rulings, will be considered binding decisions for the sides,’’ added the cited source.

The decision was made following the replacement of a judge on the panel, which requires a complete resumption of the judicial investigation.

Until June 2025, the case was examined by Ghenadie Eremciuc, Ion Malanciuc, and Stella Bleşceaga, the president of the panel. Subsequently, Ion Malanciuc was appointed as a judge at the Constitutional Court, which led to the suspension of the hearings. Last week, the sides were informed that Malanciuc was replaced by magistrate Vladislav Gribincea and the proceedings will be resumed.

During previous proceedings, the court heard 15 prosecution witnesses and examined numerous documents and transcripts.

The criminal investigation in the so-called 'Kulioc' case was resumed on May 18, 2022, after the Chisinau Court of Appeal overturned the Chisinau Court's decision not to initiate criminal proceedings against former president Igor Dodon.

The case is based on a video recording from June 2019, in which Dodon appears alongside Vladimir Plahotniuc and Serghei Iaralov.