Criminal cases that the known thief in law, Gregory Karamalak, have had opened in Moldova were sent, last summer, to Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, after beeing translated into Russian. The materials were sent under the signature of Andrei Pantea, First Deputy Prosecutor General, and “rescue operation” of “thief in law” was one with many secrets.

During last years, lawyers of Karamalak have tried, initially unsuccessful, several times, to obtain his files to be sent to Russia. In 2011, by the decission of Rascani Court, the Prosecutor General (PG) was obliged to send them, but, in March 2011, the SC canceled the concluding of judge from Rascani, Gennady Morozan, so that, transmission of files was canceled. Initially, the one who was refusing transmission of files was Andrei Pantea, also then, First Deputy Prosecutor General.

The story of KARAMALAK

According to public information, “thief in law” Gregory Karamalak, so called Bulgaru, native of Taraclia, given search by Interpol since 1998, had opened in Moldova two criminal cases for more acts committed in the 90s. In one case, he was charged with racketeering and organization of attempted murders in order, and in another, more episodes of blackmail. In fact, the officials, who had ties with the two cases of Karamalak, in which he had the status of the accused, are saying that only the first case had evidences, the second, about blackmail, not having too many plausible evidences in it.

In 2004, the press wrote that on the name of Karamalak was opened a criminal case in Russia as well, on the same facts which he had files in Moldova: thuggery and assassination attempts. The competent authorities in Russia have repeatedly called Moldovan counterparts remission of cases, on the grounds that the offenses took place in Russia too. Nobody knows when, the fact is that until 2008, when Karamalak obtained Russian citizenship, the file in Russia on the name of “thief in law” was ranked, because of the absence of components of offence. Only the files from Moldova were left, but were suspended in August 2007, due to Russia refuse to extradition. Even though on the 16th of September 2010 he was arrested in the bar “Zebra” in Moscow, where, along with other 23 “thieves in law”, was following, according to Russian media, to discuss the division of spheres of influence. The next day Karamalak was released.

Decision belonged to a newly-formed section

Attempts of his lawyers to lead the two cases from Moldova to Russian Federation, where, Karamalak had already been acquitted for similar facts, culminated on July 25, 2013, when, finally, the materials made their way to Moscow. Please note that, in early 2013, after Andrei Pantea took the place of Valeriu Zubco, Karamalak files, along with other files aiming criminal groups, were then assigned to a section formed at that time, by Interim Prosecutor General order: to Control section and Investigation of misdemeanor of organized crime, division head becoming Vasile Godoroja. Namely he came, few months later, officially, with the proposal that Karamalak files to be joined and sent to Moscow. Subsequently, the department was reorganized, and changed its name, tasks and … head.

Vasile Godoroja, former head of department, admitted that he had under his management files of Karamalak, but sent them to Russia “to be examined there”, after prosecutors from here asked repeatedly but unsuccessfully to extradite Karamalak. I asked the prosecutor if he knew, when he decided to send the files to Russia, about the criminal case opened in that country on Karamalak name, in 2004, on facts similar to those for which Karamalak was investigated in Moldova, and the fact that the prosecution has been terminated on the basis of those allegations. Godoroja asked us time to verify the information. He later said he did not know for what was charged Karamalak in Moscow or other details about that file, even though, much of the information appeared in the press. Godoroja told us that “I got the file, I resumed prosecution, we found that the limitation period is approaching and, because a request came from Russia, we decided to send it there”.

Pantea invoked limitation period

We also met with Andrei Pantea, First Deputy Prosecutor General. He told us that the file (two files merged) was sent in August (July 25, from ZdG informations), after repeated requests addressed by the Russian Prosecutor. “Because I’ve heard some discussion from the shadow, as it would have been done, do not know how, secrets, deals, I want it to be clear that no one has made a secret of it. A legal procedure of the transfer of prosecution was made. The case was not sent to the address of an Ltd or NGO, but to the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation, according to law. Correspondence between institutions lasts from 2004 and extradition of the citizen was denied several times”, said Pantea. He recalled that, becoming Interim Attorney General, has created a new department who took “all criminal cases related to organized crime, not just this particular case”.

“I wonder: do we have to resort to some illegal tricks to declare that we fight crime? To invent some reasons for refusing extradition? We must admit the expiration of limitation period to subsequently answer why we allowed this? In 2016, this period was to expire. I think a right decision was taken. Let’s not invent. In fact, we’ve elevated this citizen to a hero level, talking betwen quotes”, told us Pantea. “Yes, I have given my agreement, I signed the letter and I think I signed it legaly”, he said. Pantea also told us that, so far, the Prosecutor has not received an official response from the Russian Prosecutor’s Office regarding a decision on the file because “it’s a case that requires a long examination”. Asked if the attorney general knew about the case beeing sent to Russia, Pantea replied: “with Mr. Gurin we are in a service relationship, of work, at the appropriate level. Prosecutor is not an Ltd. Each has responsibilities clearly defined. I am a prosecutor and I must conform my work to legislation, regardless of the status, performance and so on. We must treat all citizens in accordance with the law”, concluded Pantea. Requested by ZdG, the Attorney General did not respond to the calls.

Karamalak still on Interpol

After discussions with Andrei Pantea, I also talked to Anatol Parnau, head of international legal assistance and European integration, another “artisan” of the dispatch of Karamalak’s file to Moscow. “I sent the file now because prosecutors have now came with the proposal, and we examined it and decided that there are grounds. Attorney Vasile Godoroja presented the documents, we checked. The case was examined as well as other cases of extradition. I do not know if Mr.Gurin knew. According to service duties, Mr. Pantea is responsible for the work of our department. We talk with him. Mr.Pantea, if deemes necessary to report to the Attorney General, he reports”, appointed the prosecutor. Liliana Nani, the prosecutor responsible for the case, told us that “Russian authorities have received the file in question and it is examined. The state is obliged, to take a final decision, to inform us, but, so far, we have no information”, said Nani.

We tried repeatedly to get a position on the case also from the Prosecutor General of Russia, but without success. The fact is that, Karamalak, even today is announced in search by INTERPOL, although some sources say that, in Russia, he is not listed in any criminal case any more. “We have no information on removing him from the search. If a country announced search, another, even if acquitted him, is not entitled to remove him. Transmitter search should come up with a request for the removal from the international prosecution”, said for ZdG, Fredolin Lecari, Head of International Police Cooperation Centre of Police Headquarters in MIA. The lawyer Oleg Lozan told us that he is still Karamalak’s attorney, but he did not know that his files were forwarded to the Russian Federation. Dmitri Costei, another lawyer who previously represented Karamalak, told us that now he is no longer his lawyer.

Victor MOŞNEAG