The knowingly acceptance of financial means from the organized criminal group led by Ilan Shor for the purpose of financing the political party.
Art. 181/2 CC – Acceptance of funding from an organized criminal group or a criminal organization (association). Location: city of Ștefan Vodă
Factual summary
During the period from July 23, 2022, to October 20, 2022, Natalia Harcenco served as the president of the Glodeni territorial organization of the Political Party "Șor", also being responsible for coordinating the activities of the territorial organization in the Ștefan Vodă district.
According to the accusation, she knew that the party was financed by an organized criminal group led by the former president of the formation, Ilan Șor. Acting based on a prior agreement with other individuals, Natalia Harcenco allegedly contributed, as an accomplice, to the acceptance of financing for the Political Party "Șor", by providing information and services, as well as by making available the necessary means and tools.
For this purpose, she allegedly received and transmitted, via Telegram and other electronic communication means, to the employees of the Monitoring and Control Department of the party, Evghenia Guțul, Maria Rață, and Cristina Galescu:
- lists of individuals mobilized for protests by the Ștefan Vodă territorial organization;
- lists of means of transport used for the movement of protesters;
- photographs taken during the boarding of participants onto the means of transport.
Additionally, Natalia Harcenco allegedly organized the mobilization and round-trip transportation of participants on protest days, providing instructions to party activists. At the same time, she allegedly received from couriers, in bags and envelopes, amounts of money in particularly large proportions, used for paying for transportation and rewarding each protester with 400 lei per day.
Payments were allegedly made for participation in the protests organized by the Political Party "Șor" in front of public institutions in the municipality of Chișinău, including the Parliament, Government, Presidency, and General Prosecutor's Office.
Court Decision
First instance: Conviction
Appeal: The defender's appeal was dismissed as unfounded
Sanctions and measures
Imprisonment with execution. Imprisonment: 48 months (with suspended sentence)
Financial indicators
CRJM expert observation
The case was tried in general procedure, and the defendant did not admit his guilt. The court ordered the conviction of the defendant.
In order to reach the conclusion of conviction, the court considered the evidence investigated and collected through searches, seizures, special investigative measures, document examination, etc. Additionally, the court heard 20 witnesses.
The appellate court rejected the appeal filed by the defender on September 1, 2025, who contested the sentence and requested the acquittal of Natalia Harcenco, arguing, among other things, that the conclusions of the court of first instance were based on assumptions.
The criminal panel found that the first instance court did not commit any factual errors, and the evidence presented proves the guilt of the defendant.
Case timeline
July 24, 2022 — 211 individuals were transported from the Ștefan Vodă district to the protest in Chișinău, with a total of 62,520 lei paid for round-trip transportation and 2,380 lei for food.
August 23, 2022 — 356 individuals were transported, with a total of 120,000 lei paid for transporting protest participants.
September 2, 2022 — 596 individuals were transported, with a total of 298,000 lei paid for participant remuneration and round-trip transportation.
September 9, 2022 — 509 individuals were transported, with a total of 314,373.84 lei paid.
September 18, 2022 — 822 individuals were transported, with a total of 492,005.92 lei paid.
September 25, 2022 — 140 individuals were transported, with a total of 81,466 lei paid.
October 2, 2022 — 283 individuals were transported, with a total of 169,437.44 lei paid.
October 9, 2022 — 734 individuals were transported, with a total of 435,243.52 lei paid.
October 16, 2022 — 676 individuals were transported, with a total of 404,724.12 lei paid.
October 21, 2022 — the detention was terminated, the accused was released.
November 15, 2022 — a special investigative measure was recorded regarding the interception of telephone conversations conducted by Natalia Harcenco; from the discussions, the prosecuting authority established her involvement in receiving funds, organizing the transportation of people from the Ștefan Vodă district, and distributing individuals for protests in tents.
January 27, 2023 — files and electronic documents were examined from the system block seized at the headquarters of the Ștefan Vodă territorial organization of the PP "Șor", identifying lists, minutes, organizational documents, and tables regarding round-trip transportation, the number of people, and associated amounts.
April 18, 2023 — 2,162 electronic files were seized from Ala Beșliu, organized into 83 folders, regarding the record of protests, transportation, places of origin, participants, and party staff.
April 18, 2023 — the electronic files seized from Ala Beșliu were examined, confirming data regarding the organization and financing of protests during the period from July 24 to October 16, 2022.
November 7, 2023 — the mobile phone seized from Natalia Onica during the search at the PP "Șor" headquarters was examined; images regarding the transportation of individuals, including from the Ștefan Vodă district, to the protests organized in the fall of 2022 were identified.
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| Case no. | 1ra-543/26 |
| PIGD no. | 01-838/26 |
| Court | Chișinău Court, Buiucani headquarters |
| Started | 23.07.2022 |
| Verdict | 18.08.2025 |
| Case duration | 3 years |
| Judges | Ion Talpa, Anatolie Rusu · Judecătoria Ungheni, Viorica Severin, Cristina Prisacari, Elizaveta Buzu, Vladislav Schibin, Alexandru Negru · Recursul a fost înregistrat la data de 09 februarie 2026, Denis Băbălău (Președinte) |
| Prosecutors | Foros Dorin, Dorin Foros, Tatiana Nadulișneac, Vasile Disculțu, Cristina Gladcov, Grigore Clevadî, Vitalie Ivanov |
| Lawyers | Ina Perțu, Vadim Banaru, Dumitru Barbaroș |
Art. 181/2 CP – Acceptance of funding from an organized criminal group or a criminal organization (association); art.42 para.(5), 45, art.181/2 of the Criminal Code; special confiscation (art.106 Criminal Code)
