Moldova appeal court to rule on Nesterovschi's 12-year corruption sentence
The Centru Court of Appeal in Chișinău is set to announce its verdict on December 23 in the high-profile case of former deputy Alexandr Nesterovschi.
He was handed a 12-year corruption sentence by the first instance court for passive corruption and involvement in an organized criminal group.
The announcement was made after a session on Tuesday, December 2, during which judges reviewed the latest requests filed by the defense lawyers.
The defense entirely challenges the sentence issued in March 2025 and is seeking the acquittal of the former deputy.
Lawyer Anatolie Pitel states that the evidence in the case does not adequately prove the commission of the alleged crimes.
"Today, the court concluded the examination of all requests. The pronouncement follows on December 23," declared Nesterovschi's lawyer. "We believe that the elements of the crime are not met, and we request a sentence of acquittal."
According to Pitel, "part of the evidence was secured with violations, and other pieces do not prove the commission of any crime."
Nesterovschi was not present in the courtroom. He famously fled the Republic of Moldova one day before the first instance sentence was pronounced, entering the Russian Embassy in Chișinău, from where he was allegedly transferred to the Transnistrian region.
The former deputy is currently on the international wanted list.
His lawyer specified that he is not in contact with his client: "I am defending his interests based on a previously received mandate."
The prosecutor responsible for this case stated that he would only comment on the arguments after the judges' decision is pronounced.
Alexandr Nesterovschi, a former deputy affiliated with the "Șor" criminal group, was sentenced on March 19, 2025, to 12 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 lei. The charges included passive corruption in particularly large proportions, involvement in an organized criminal group, and preparing the illegal financing of the political party from prohibited sources.
He was initially detained in September 2023, along with deputy Irina Lozovan, as part of an Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office investigation into the illegal financing of the former "Șor" party, which was later declared unconstitutional.
In a parallel finding, the National Integrity Authority determined that Nesterovschi possessed unjustified wealth exceeding 364,000 lei, including a vehicle purchased for his partner.
His former colleague, Irina Lozovan, was sentenced to six years in prison, a sentence definitively upheld by the Moldova appeal court on November 25, 2025.
These two causes are part of a broader investigation into corruption and illegal financing associated with the "Șor" criminal group.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
