Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu vows to end convict escapes to Transnistria
Moldova’s Parliament is moving to close legislative gaps that allow high-profile defendants to flee to the breakaway Transnistrian region or abroad just moments before their sentencing. Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu admitted that poor inter-institutional coordination has facilitated these escapes and promised urgent legal amendments.
Speaking on Pro TV on January 22, Grosu revealed he had confronted leaders of the Police, the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS), and the Superior Council of Magistracy. He questioned how defendants in high-resonance cases manage to vanish "miraculously" right before court rulings are delivered.
Legislative fissures and delayed warrants
Grosu highlighted a critical flaw: the delay in transmitting court orders to the police. In many cases where immediate detention is ordered, the paperwork arrives too late to prevent the convict from crossing into uncontrolled territory.
"I asked them how it is possible that these individuals do not even show up in court on the eve of a ruling and somehow reach the left bank of the Dniester," Grosu stated. He noted that institutions often shift blame, citing a lack of clear legal regulations.
To eliminate these "illegal gateways," Parliament intends to amend the Criminal Procedure Code. The Speaker announced that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, SIS, and the Prosecutor's Office will collaborate on a provision to block convicts from seeking refuge in Transnistria.
The growing list of high-profile fugitives
The urgency follows a string of recent escapes. On January 20, prosecutor Lilian Lungu was sentenced to five years in prison but remains at large as the verdict was issued in his absence.
Similarly, in a case involving fictitious hirings at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, only one out of three convicts is in custody. Former Police Chief Alexandru Pînzari is missing, while another accomplice, Valeriu Cojocaru, is reportedly in Hungary.
Other notable fugitives include former Gagauz official Dmitri Constantinov, sentenced to 12 years, and former MPs Alexandr Nesterovschi and Irina Lozovan. The latter two allegedly fled to Transnistria with the help of Russian Embassy staff.
Transnistria remains a major vulnerability
Grosu confirmed that the separatist region remains a significant security challenge. However, he emphasized that resolving the Transnistrian conflict is a long-term process that should not stall Moldova’s path toward the European Union.
The Speaker suggested a "two-step" integration model: the constitutional territory (the right bank) first, followed by the Transnistrian region. He believes the benefits of EU proximity will eventually serve as a powerful motivator for reintegration, attracting citizens from the breakaway territory through concrete economic and legal advantages.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
