The Athens Court accepted former PDM leader Vlad Plahotniuc’s statement in two additional extradition requests and merged the procedures into a single case, according to IPN. During the hearing, Plahotniuc’s lawyer, Lucian Rogac, confirmed that his client insisted on and reconfirmed his agreement to be transferred to the Republic of Moldova.
“Moldova’s Ministry of Justice had to complete the extradition file yesterday, and today both requests—from the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Justice—were merged and examined in a single procedure, during one hearing,” Plahotniuc’s lawyer stated.
Rogac added that the next steps depend on the Moldovan authorities, urging them not to submit “artificial new requests.” He emphasized that once Greece’s Ministry of Justice confirms the extradition, the only remaining step will be to set the earliest possible date for the transfer.
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In response, Moldova’s Ministry of Justice rejected the lawyer’s accusations of delaying the extradition process, calling them false. The ministry assured that it is working in coordination with the General Prosecutor’s Office, in accordance with national legislation and the European Convention on Extradition. It clarified that the Prosecutor’s Office submits requests for cases under criminal investigation, while the Ministry of Justice handles those already in court or execution stages.
Interim Prosecutor General Alexandr Machidon confirmed on Tuesday that Greek authorities are currently reviewing the case and will verify whether they have sent the official notification to Chisinau.
On August 13, the Athens Court of Appeal ruled in favor of extraditing Vlad Plahotniuc, who had previously been detained at the Greek capital’s airport based on requests submitted via Interpol. The final decision now rests with Greece’s Ministry of Justice, which will determine the date of transfer.