Lawyers ask repeatedly supreme justice court to acquit, release of former prime minister of Moldova

Chisinau, 14 September /MOLDPRES/ – The law firm “Popa and Associates” filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) for acquittal and dismissal of former Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat.

According to the law firm’s press release, Igor Popa, Filat's lawyer, asked the CSJ to quash the judgments of the national courts, to reexamine the case and make a new decision by which Vlad Filat to be acquitted and release from detention.

According to the cited source, the appeal was filed because "domestic law gives the supreme court the possibility to remedy the abuses and violations admitted to the trial of Vlad Filat".

In the request, Igor Popa pointed out "several fundamental flaws" that would lead to the condemnation of Vlad Filat. The lawyer complained about the lack of publicity of court hearings, violation of the right to effective remedy, violation of the rights of defence, failure to justify judgments etc.

"We believe that the filing of Vlad Filat's rights until the decision of the European Court will relieve Moldova of a new conviction in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)," said the communiqué.

The former Prime Minister, Vlad Filat, also filed an application in the European Court of Human Rights in August. Filat claimed that during the trial he was violated of several rights guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Also, in 2015, Vlad Filat filed a complaint with the ECHR "Filat c/Moldova", which refers to "violation of prison conditions in Penitentiary 13, detention and illegal arrest".

Vlad Filat was arrested in October 2015, accused of passive corruption and trafficking after businessman, Ilan Shor, told prosecutors that he would have given him money and goods worth $250 million. In June 2016, Vlad Filat was sentenced to nine years in prison. He declares himself innocent.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor M. Jantovan)