Justice

Veronica Dragalin criticizes proposed anti-corruption merger

Veronica Dragalin, head of the Moldovan Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (PA), criticizes the Ministry of Justice's proposal to merge the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office with the Prosecutor's Office for the Fight against Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS).

In a statement to Teleradio-Moldova, the chief anti-corruption prosecutor emphasized that the proposal does not address the current needs and challenges in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

"In the Minister of Justice's speech, no plausible or convincing arguments were presented to justify the need for such a merger," stated the PA.

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office sent a letter to Teleradio-Moldova addressed to Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu, outlining the obstacles, challenges, and proposed solutions to combat electoral corruption. In the document signed on January 24, 2025, PA head Veronica Dragalin warns of well-organized networks using sophisticated methods to corrupt the political and electoral process. According to her, without urgent measures, these practices could affect the 2025 parliamentary elections.

Dragalin emphasizes that, without additional resources and legislative changes, corruption investigations risk remaining incomplete, making it harder to prosecute those responsible.

It should be noted that the Minister of Justice proposed the reorganization of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the Prosecutor's Office for the Fight against Organized Crime and Special Cases this morning. The cases handled by these offices could be transferred to the newly created Section for Combating Political Corruption and Money Laundering within the Prosecutor General's Office. Veronica Moraru-Mihailov announced that she would submit the proposals to Parliament today.

When contacted for a comment, the head of PCCOCS, Victor Furtună, did not answer our calls. The spokesperson for the Prosecutor General's Office, Violina Moraru, stated that Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu would hold a briefing after reviewing the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Justice.

Meanwhile, experts believe that the reorganization of the two anti-corruption prosecutor's offices was designed to force the removal of PA head Veronica Dragalin from her position. They argue that the reform will not improve the fight against corruption but will create instability and discourage prosecutors in the system.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

Ecaterina Arvintii

Ecaterina Arvintii

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