The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG) informs that on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, it finished the criminal prosecution actions on the episode incriminated former President of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Dodon, targeted in the criminal case, generically called “Energocom”. PG officials announce that the accused and his defenders have appeared before PG prosecutors, where they were informed in the manner provided by law about the end of the prosecution actions.

Therefore, after informing the accused and his defenders about the completion of the criminal prosecution, a timetable was established as to the place and time limit for them to take cognizance of the materials of the criminal prosecution, under the conditions specified in Articles 293-294 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

In this criminal case, the former Head of State is charged with the offence of exceeding the duties of his office by a person of public dignity for the benefit of an organised criminal group (Article 46, Article 328(3) of the Criminal Code).

The accusation against the former head of state relates to his actions during 2008-2009, when he was First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Trade.

More specifically, he is accused of having, from his position as First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Trade, in May 2008, signed the opinion that favoured the conclusion of a contract for the purchase of electricity for the Republic of Moldova by the General Director of Energocom SA with a foreign Hungarian company, in the amount of 2 320 000 000 kw/h, for the period May 2008 to June 2009, contrary to the legal provisions which at that time covered the activity of the central public authority for energy management in the person of the Ministry of Economy and Trade and in particular the functional powers of the Minister of Economy and Trade.

Thus, according to the provisions of the contract concluded with the foreign company, the price of electricity for the period May-September 2008 inclusive was 0.053 US dollars per 1 kw/h, and 0.058 US dollars per 1 kw/h for electricity delivered in the period from October 2008 to June 2009 inclusive, although SA “Energocom” had already negotiated and concluded two contracts for the supply of electricity at a price 29% cheaper.

As a result of the above actions, the State in the person of SA ,,Energocom” was caused particularly large damages in the amount of 11 927 173 US dollars, equivalent to 123 957 916 lei, money that was subsequently transferred to the accounts of offshore companies.

In this context, the prosecutors note that evidence was obtained during the criminal proceedings proving the detrimental nature of the above-mentioned electricity purchase contract concluded to the detriment of state interests, namely the existence at that time of electricity supply contracts concluded by ЗАО , ,Молдавская ГРЭС’ with foreign economic agents at prices much lower than the price at which SA ‘Energocom’ purchased electricity from a foreign company in Hungary, the electricity which was supplied through the electricity networks of the R. Moldova on the basis of an agent contract between SA “Energocom” as Executor and ЗАО ,,Молдавская ГРЭС” as Client.

At the same time, these actions, according to the accusers, led to the increase of electricity tariffs, affecting the rights of final consumers, citizens of the Republic of Moldova.

“The incriminated episode of the ex-President of the Republic of Moldova, was disjoined in a separate proceeding from the basic file. At the same time, related to the subject under investigation, we specify that the criminal prosecution continues against some individuals, foreign companies, registered in off-shore areas, on whose account were transferred part of the financial means resulting from the contract on the procurement of electricity by SA “Energocom”, some of which are part of the organized criminal group led by Vladimir Plahotniuc, through his trusted persons, including Vladimir Andronachi, who are the final beneficiaries of part of the financial means obtained from the “electricity scheme”, the PG notes.

Likewise, further criminal investigations are also targeting the transfers of funds from the “electricity scheme” to the account of a political party in Moldova, individuals and companies affiliated with high-ranking state officials, the prosecutors add.

Prosecutors will report on the results of these actions at a later date, provided that the disclosure of certain information in the file does not jeopardise the proper conduct of the criminal investigation.

“In this context, we would like to assure that the criminal investigations on this case are carried out within the limits of the criminal procedural legislation, respecting all the rights and freedoms of the person concerned, ensuring the principle of presumption of innocence, confidentiality of criminal proceedings, respect for privacy and personal data,” the PG note added.