The Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled on Monday, April 20, to extradite Alexandru Balan, the former deputy head of the Security and Intelligence Service of the Republic of Moldova, who was convicted in Chisinau for disclosing state secrets.
Judges in Romania approved the request from authorities in Republic of Moldova and ordered his surrender to serve a prison sentence of 1 year and 6 months, issued by the Chisinau Court on April 15. At the same time, the court ordered Balan’s detention for 30 days pending extradition.
According to the ruling, the former official, who holds both Romanian and Moldovan citizenship, agreed to be extradited.
Alexandru Balan is accused of transmitting classified information to structures associated with the KGB in Belarus, in a case where he is also under investigation for treason.
The conviction in Moldova was issued in absentia after the defendant admitted his guilt and requested a simplified procedure, participating in the court hearing online.