Vlad Filat, wanted internationally by Interpol. What does the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova say about the sentence he received

Vlad Filat, former prime minister of the Republic of Moldova in the period 2009-2013, was put under international investigation by Interpol, after at the beginning of December he was sentenced by a French court to 2 years in prison in a corruption case, according to Moldpres.

The move was made based on a notification issued by the Interpol Paris Central Office, and the information was confirmed for Moldpress by the spokesperson of the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova, Diana Fetco.

“The Directorate of International Police Cooperation of the Police was notified by the Interpol Paris Central Office about the fact that the person in question is wanted internationally for the purpose of arrest”, stated Diana Fetco for the news agency of the Republic of Moldova.

Vlad Filat, president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM), was sentenced by a court in France, at the beginning of December, to 2 years in prison and to pay a fine of 100,000 euros for money laundering. AFP, quoted by TV8.md, wrote that the former prime minister was accused of using money obtained illegally from a contract for the National Lottery of Moldova to buy real estate in France.

The Constitution of the Republic of Moldova forbids the extradition of its own citizens to any other state, Loreta Lisnic, responsible for communication at the Ministry of Justice in Chisinau, recalled on the occasion of the sentencing for IPN, according to RFI.

Vlad Filat's reaction

Filat, who was also in prison in the period 2016-2019, in the Republic of Moldova, being convicted of passive corruption and influence peddling, claims that the French court made a politically motivated decision.

“First of all, the decision in question is not final. It was contested by appeal, and until all legal avenues of appeal are exhausted, it cannot produce final legal effects. Under these conditions, the file cannot be sent to the Republic of Moldova for recognition or execution, as long as the judicial proceedings in France are ongoing,” said Vlad Filat, on Saturday, in a post on Facebook.

He said “the presumption of innocence remains applicable.”

“Any presentation of this decision as a final verdict or any conclusion formulated irreversibly is premature and contrary to the principles of the rule of law. I also note that the reasoning for the decision does not yet exist. After the full analysis of the decision, I will return with a detailed, reasoned and responsible comment,” added the former prime minister.

Filat said it was exercising its “legal rights openly and transparently”.

“As I have done all along, I am on the spot, I am not shirking or avoiding any procedure. I am exercising my legal rights openly and transparently.

I appeal to media representatives and public actors to show prudence and professionalism in the interpretation of legal proceedings still in progress. Compliance with the law, the presumption of innocence and verified facts remains essential for correct information to the public”, concluded Vlad Filat.