The defence team of Vladimir Plahotniuc is insisting that several assets seized in the case in which he was sentenced to 19 years in prison be unfrozen. His lawyers argue that none of the assets in question is registered in the defendant’s name. However, case prosecutor Alexandru Cernei opposed the request and asked the court to reject it.
The request was examined on Monday, November 2, at the Court of Appeal, during the final hearing of the preliminary stage ahead of the examination of appeals in Plahotniuc’s case.
“None of the seized assets is registered in the defendant’s name. They are registered under companies in the Republic of Moldova, whose shareholders are, in turn, companies from Belize and the Netherlands or individuals from the Republic of Moldova,” Plahotniuc’s lawyers explained.
The prosecutor argued, however, that copies of documents exist which could establish who the actual beneficial owners of the assets are and who they really belong to.
“All the copies demonstrating the beneficial owners and identifying who these assets actually belong to must still be examined,” the prosecutor said.
The judges decided to rule on the request during the examination of the merits of the case.
Starting Monday, November 16, the court will begin the substantive examination of appeals filed by both prosecutors and Vladimir Plahotniuc’s lawyers.
The first stage will include the prosecution’s position on the April 22, 2026, verdict, under which the former Democratic Party leader was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
It is worth noting that, during the November 2 hearing, Plahotniuc’s lawyers also requested the recusal of prosecutor Alexandru Cernei. The judges rejected the request.