Constantin Țuțu wanted internationally; PCCOCS opens case for illegal border crossing
Former Democratic MP Constantin Țuțu was placed under international surveillance due to accusations of illicit enrichment and influence peddling. The Chișinău Court based in Buiucani, made this decision on Monday, September 22, at the request of prosecutors. Prosecutors also sought a 30-day preventive arrest; however, the court denied this request.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS) has opened a criminal case against Constantin Țuțu for illegally crossing the state border.
The prosecutor in charge, Elena Cazacov, requested, during the hearing, that an interpellation from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office to the PCCOCS be attached to the case materials, along with the institution's response, according to which, on September 12, 2025, a criminal case was opened on the illegal crossing of the state border by Țuțu.
At the previous hearing, Cazacov had also presented an information note from the National Investigation Inspectorate, according to which the former deputy was already in the Transnistrian region.
The defense disputes the charges. Țuțu's lawyer, Ion Negura, claims that he is still in Greece, where he is prohibited from leaving Greek territory. The defense attorney noted that a colleague from Greece had already filed a request with the executive prosecutor in Athens to obtain permission to leave the country, but the request was not examined. At the same time, the lawyer said that Țuțu had bought a plane ticket to Chișinău for October 16, “anticipating that by then the situation would be clarified”.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean had previously announced that there was operational information according to which Țuțu intended to arrive in the Transnistrian region to carry out “certain actions”. The Head of the Executive assured that state institutions were investigating the case to establish the real intentions and the connections that the former deputy might have.
We recall that on July 22, Constantin Țuțu was detained at Athens airport, along with Vladimir Plahotniuc, based on an Interpol red notice issued by the Russian Federation. He is accused of involvement in an international drug trafficking network and belonging to a criminal organization.
Upon arrest, Greek authorities found over 150,000 euros and 17 false documents on Plahotniuc and Țuțu.
Țuțu spent more than a month in the Korydallos prison in Greece, being released in early September, as the Republic of Moldova had not issued an extradition warrant for him. Although he had bought a ticket for a flight to Chișinău on September 4, he never arrived in the Republic of Moldova by plane.
