Interpol seeks Vlad Filat: Two-year sentence in France, extradition not possible
Former Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat was added to Interpol's international wanted list, according to a notice from the Interpol Central Bureau in Paris, confirmed by authorities in Chisinau. This announcement follows a French court's decision to sentence him in absentia to two years in prison for money laundering.
The Head of the General Inspectorate of Police, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, informed Moldova 1 that the Moldovan authorities have been officially notified about the inclusion of the former prime minister in the international wanted list.
"Today, I received a report from our colleagues that the notice regarding the international wanted list was sent to the Interpol Central Bureau in Paris yesterday. This notice pertains to the detention and extradition of the individual in question. My colleagues have already informed the Prosecutor's Office, and we will see what actions follow," stated Viorel Cernăuțeanu.
He explained that Interpol sends notifications to all member states, and detention can occur if the individual is located within another country.
"Any country that is a member of Interpol, upon determining that the targeted individual is present on its territory, will take the necessary preliminary actions for the detention process," highlighted the head of the IGP.
At the same time, Viorel Cernăuțeanu emphasized that the legislation of the Republic of Moldova does not allow for the extradition of its own citizens.
“The legislation of the Republic of Moldova does not permit extradition for citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Other regulated procedures exist, but these fall under the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office,” he added.
In early December, a French court sentenced Vlad Filat in absentia to two years in prison and fined him 100,000 euros for money laundering in a corruption case, according to a court ruling accessed by AFP.
In the same case, his ex-wife, Sanda Filat, received an 18-month prison sentence with a suspended provision and a fine of 150,000 euros. She is also required to jointly pay 10,000 euros to the Republic of Moldova for moral damages alongside Filat.
Vlad Filat rejects the charges, labeling the French court's decision as politically motivated. In a public statement, he asserted:
"The decision rendered by the French court in the case regarding the division of assets following my 2012 divorce is politically motivated and heavily influenced by the Republic of Moldova. The requests submitted to the French authorities were exaggerated and lacked a legal basis, which led to this unprecedented decision in French jurisprudence."
Filat maintains that the case solely concerns the purchase of a home in France and argues that it is based on "false testimony." He expressed astonishment that the Republic of Moldova became involved in the lawsuit, seeking 18 million euros in compensation, given that the case had previously been closed in Moldova.
"I have filed an appeal against this sentence. I am confident that truth and legality will prevail, and that any abuse of procedure and political interference will be addressed," the former prime minister stated.
Although he is on the international wanted list, legal experts emphasize that Vlad Filat cannot be extradited to France, as the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova prohibits the extradition of its own citizens. The only theoretical possibility for extradition would arise if the French sentence were recognized within the Republic of Moldova by national courts, a process that is lengthy and can only be initiated after the decision becomes final.
Legal expert Alexandru Bot noted that extradition would only be feasible if Vlad Filat also held French citizenship, a scenario he considers "unlikely."
"A mechanism to enforce this French sentence within Moldova would require its recognition by our courts, at the request of the French authorities. However, this is a long process, especially since we are dealing with a first-instance sentence, which is not yet final. He still enjoys the presumption of innocence, so we must continue to monitor these developments and see how they unfold," Alexandru Bot explained.
For now, the case remains in the international judicial phase, and Moldovan authorities have announced they will monitor the situation and act within the legal framework.
