Pavel Filip testified in the case commonly known as the kuliok case. According to IPN, the former prime minister confirmed that the Socialists and the Democrats negotiated the formation of a government after the February 2019 parliamentary elections.
The former official told judges of the Supreme Court of Justice that members of the Democratic Party knew about meetings between Vlad Plahotniuc and Igor Dodon, as well as meetings with representatives of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. He said the Socialists came with conditions dictated from Moscow, and the two political formations ultimately failed to reach a consensus.
Referring to the video footage showing a black bag, Pavel Filip said he did not know what the package contained, but he confirmed the location where the video was filmed.
“I was surprised by the appearance of such a recording in the public space, but it confirmed the discussions we were having within the Executive Bureau,” the former prime minister said.
The court also heard testimony from Andrei Neguta, Moldova former ambassador to Moscow. He stated that the images showing the bag were not authentic, TV8 reported.
“Mr President could not have spoken like that with Mr Plahotniuc. It was not possible,” the diplomat said.
The case known as kuliok, in which Igor Dodon faces charges, concerns the alleged handover of a black package with a calendar by former Democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc to the former head of state during Dodon term in office. Investigators suspect that the bag contained money.
Igor Dodon said the video recording cannot serve as evidence because someone edited it. He described the footage as a provocation staged by Vlad Plahotniuc.
Authorities are also expected to question the former Democratic leader, who is currently in preventive detention, in connection with the case.