EX-PREMIER FILAT CHALLENGES HIS SENTENCE IN ECHR

Former Prime Minister Vlad Filat, convicted to 9 years for corruption, challenged the sentence in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), informs Igor Popa Lawyer’s Bureau on Thursday.

In a video address, posted in social networks, Popa, who represents Filat’s interests, says that judges issued a deliberately unlawful decision against his client.

The submitted petition also says that during legal proceedings, violation of the Convention on Human Rights took place. Filat’s right to fair justice was violated. In particular, the document points at the fact that the principle of court hearings’ openness was broken.

“I became a victim of a process, that was conducted in nontransparent conditions, secretly, I was prohibited to communicate with mass media. Not a single argument was presented that would prove that the conducting of open hearings could influence the process of legal trial”, the published statement says.

Filat also pointed that most of his requests on inviting and hearing witnesses were declined without any explanation.

“Also, the principle of equality of defense and prosecution was not observed, while judges did not present guarantees of impartiality”, the statement says.

The convict also points that the article #8 of the Convention on Human Rights, which stipulates the right on private and family life was violated, when episodes of private life were deliberately disclosed in press. Besides, during the entire legal process, Filat was accompanied to court by an excessive number of guards, he was kept handcuffed, which was imposing to the society an opinion of his guilt and damaged his public image.

Vlad Filat also reminds that he was elected as Parliament deputy in conditions of democratic elections, while the Parliament voted for depriving him of deputy immunity in violation of the current legislation.

“What happened in this criminal case is no doubt a judicial error. I am sure that this case will replenish the list of cases, lost by Moldova in the European Court. It is a pity that before ECHR decision is issued, Vlad Filat will stay in prison. But I am sure that the justice will triumph in this case”, lawyer Igor Popa said.

On June 27, 2016, Vlad Filat was sentenced to 9 years with confiscation of property and prohibition to occupy public positions for 5 years, as well as a fine of 60 thousand lei (US$3 thousand). He was accused of corruption, of abuse of power, of getting bribe of US$250 million from entrepreneur Ilan Shor. Prosecutors demanded 19 years and regard the verdict as too mild, while lawyers maintain that their client is innocent and should be released. The Superior Court of Justice (SCJ) upheld the first instance decision.