Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban could face a one-year ban from holding the office of mayor after allegedly using a diplomatic service passport during a trip to Italy while he was officially suspended from his duties as mayor to run as a parliamentary candidate on the Alternativa Bloc list, according to an investigation published by Ziarul de Garda.
According to the publication, a contravention case has been opened against Ceban over the alleged unlawful use of the service passport.
On August 31, 2025, Ceban posted a video from outside Rome’s Colosseum, announcing that he had several days of official activities ahead. However, journalists note that he did not disclose the meetings he attended or explain how he entered Italy despite being subject to a five-year Schengen entry ban, imposed at Romania’s request.
On September 2, Ziarul de Garda published a response from Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which confirmed that Ceban had been issued a visa with limited territorial validity, allowing entry only into Italy and only until September 3. According to the Italian authorities, the visa was granted exclusively to enable him, in his institutional capacity, to attend an event co-organized by UNESCO and the Coalition of Cities Against Racism, to which he had been invited.
After returning to Chisinau on September 3, Ceban stated that he had traveled as a private citizen and had personally covered all travel expenses.
A day later, on September 4, 2025, the ruling PAS party filed a complaint with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) regarding Ceban’s actions as a parliamentary candidate. The complaint was later forwarded to law enforcement authorities. CEC Deputy Chair Pavel Postica acknowledged that, due to an apparent oversight, the referral had been sent to investigators with a delay.
Law enforcement authorities subsequently concluded that there had been an unlawful use of a service passport and drew up a contravention report, which was submitted to the Chisinau Court, Buiucani district.
Investigators reportedly requested that the court impose a fine of 250 contravention units and prohibit Ceban from holding the office of mayor for one year.
According to the investigation, the report was drawn up in Ceban’s absence but in the presence of his lawyer.
In response, Ceban published a video on social media, describing the case as a politically motivated attack against him and his team. He insisted that municipal projects would continue even if he were suspended from office.
“I want to assure you that no matter what they do—whether they suspend me, imprison me, or drag me through the mud using all their institutions—I have built a system that is so effective, perhaps even better than some corporate systems, that we will complete every project. Every commitment I have made to the people will be fulfilled, regardless of what they do,” Ceban said.
Since June 2025, Ion Ceban has been banned from entering the Schengen Area. Romanian authorities announced the measure, stating that he posed a threat to Romania’s national security. Two other individuals were also reportedly subjected to the same restriction.