Chișinău Court extends pre-trial detention of Victor Osipov by 30 days
The Ciocana District Court in Chisinau has extended the pre-trial detention of Victor Osipov, former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, for an additional 30 days. He will continue to be held at Penitentiary No. 13 while facing charges in a criminal case related to the establishment of "duty-free shops" in the Transnistrian region, which allegedly facilitated cigarette smuggling.
A group of over 20 public figures, including academics, former ministers, lawyers, journalists, and writers, has addressed an appeal to the judicial institutions and development partners of the Republic of Moldova, requesting the release of Victor Osipov during the criminal investigation.
Among the signatories are academic Mihai Cimpoi, former Minister of Justice Alexandru Tănase, former Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuță, former Minister of Health Gheorghe Ghidirim, former ambassador Vasile Bumacov, lawyer Vadim Vieru, and journalists Aneta Grosu and Valeriu Vasilică, as well as economic analyst Veaceslav Ioniță. They have expressed their concern about the conditions of detention in Penitentiary No. 13.
Victor Osipov claims that he is the victim of a coordinated effort by forces hostile to the Republic of Moldova, arguing that the charges against him are the "front element" of a larger operation orchestrated by the "Russian agency of the Moldovan secret services" since 2019.
He draws a direct connection between his situation and the release of Alexandru Bălan, the former deputy director of the Intelligence and Security Service, who was recently pardoned and allowed to leave for Belarus.
Osipov, who was detained on March 24 of this year, describes his continued detention as an unjustified measure of pressure, particularly since the investigation pertains to events from over a decade ago.
"I consider this measure abusive and unnecessary in a case where the investigation has been ongoing for over 10 years, and I am open and cooperative with the criminal investigation body. I maintain my innocence," Osipov declared.
On March 24, former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Victor Osipov was detained on charges of abuse of office related to the illegal establishment of duty-free shops in the Transnistrian region.
The Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases reported that national legislation was allegedly "adapted" between 2015 and 2019, which held the Government accountable and facilitated a smuggling scheme involving excise products, particularly cigarettes.
Under the guise of a duty-free regime, goods were introduced into the country without payment of taxes, using fraudulent documents indicating the Transnistrian region as the final destination.
This scheme is believed to have caused an estimated loss of approximately four billion lei to the state budget.
The investigation also targets former MP Vladimir Andronachi, who is accused of creating and leading the criminal organization behind this smuggling operation.
