Funding of the protests by the PP 'Șor': leaders of OT Criuleni and Ialoveni accused of complicity

1) Andrei Burciu, as the president of the Criuleni Territorial Organization of the Political Party “Șor”, contributed to the acceptance of illegal financing of the party from the organized criminal group led by Ilan Șor.

During the period from 23.07.2022 to 20.10.2022, he transmitted information via Telegram and other electronic means about the individuals mobilized for protests, transporters, participant lists, and photographs regarding the boarding of protesters.

He organized the transportation of participants from the Criuleni district to the protests in Chișinău and received illicit financial means, from which the transport and 400 lei/day for the protesters were paid.
Additionally, during the period from 18.09.2022 to 16.10.2022, he organized the daily participation of 22 individuals in the “City of Change”, for which 63,800 USD was allegedly paid, equivalent to 1,240,844 lei.
In total, Burciu's actions targeted the illegal financing of the OT Criuleni in the amount of 2,839,295.52 lei, being qualified as an accomplice in the acceptance of financing for the party from an organized criminal group.

2) Vasile Molovata, as the president of the Ialoveni Territorial Organization of the Political Party “Șor”, contributed to the acceptance of illegal financing of the party from the organized criminal group led by Ilan Șor.

During the period from June to October 2022, he organized the mobilization of individuals from the Ialoveni district to protests, identified transporters, and transmitted participant lists, transport, and photographs to the party's Monitoring and Control Department.

He received, stored, and managed undeclared financial means used for paying transport, compensating protesters with 400 lei/day, paying activists, maintaining the office, and other activities of the territorial organization.

During the period from 18.09.2022 to 16.10.2022, Molovata was also responsible for the record of individuals in tents in the “City of Change”, for which 147,900 USD was allegedly paid, equivalent to 2,876,502 lei.
In total, Molovata's actions targeted the illegal financing of the OT Ialoveni in the amount of 3,486,099.76 lei, being classified as complicity in the acceptance of financing for the political party from an organized criminal group.

Other property measures: maintaining asset seizure on the vehicle worth 28,192 MDL

First court: 1) Convicted Burciu Andrei
2) Convicted Molovata Vasile
Appeal: No solution yet
Review: Not applicable

Suspended imprisonment. Imprisonment: 48 months (with suspended sentence)

The case was tried in the court of first instance in general procedure. The defendants did not admit their guilt. In order to reach a conviction, the court of first instance examined several pieces of evidence (results of examinations, searches, special investigative measures, etc.), including hearing 21 witnesses. The case is relevant for judicial practice as it addresses acts of electoral corruption that took place in 2022, including revealing methods of using money accepted from the organized criminal group “Shor” (organizing and remunerating individuals to participate in protests, remunerating members of the PP “Shor”), the amount paid to each person for participating in protests, as well as communication methods for the preparation and prolonged commission of the acts.