INQUIRY ON PLAHOTNIUC’S EXTRADITION IS BEING CONSIDERED BY AMERICAN AUTHORITIES – U.S. AMBASSADOR

The United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Moldova, Dereck Hogan, has confirmed that the American Side had received the Republic of Moldova’s inquiry on the extradition of Vladimir Plahotniuc, and that the document is being considered by the U.S. authorities.

Speaking on the local television on Tuesday evening, the diplomat said he cannot present details of the document consideration, but stressed that the authorities of the United States and the Republic of Moldova have established a direct communication and interaction on the extradition issue. Dereck Hogan said he had no idea how long the consideration may take.

The U.S. Ambassador said he can see positive change in the work of the Moldovan Prosecutor General's Office.

For example, he said, a year ago many non-governmental organizations here were saying that they felt fear about how the law was administered in this republic because the Moldovan Prosecution Service was used as a political instrument in the hands of certain forces. Now the situation has changed, and the opposition and the civil society representatives are confirming this.

“We can see positive changes. But we want to see progress in high-profile cases”, stressed Dereck Hogan.

The diplomat characterized as “a serious problem” the fact that until now the investigation of the one-billion-dollar bank fraud has not been brought to the end.

Ambassador Derek Hogan said the bank fraud investigation influences on the Republic of Moldova’s international image and shows that the country continues to suffer of corruption. The diplomat expressed hope that the Prosecutor General's Office will complete the investigation and that all the people having a relation to the theft will be brought to responsibility.