The NAC conducts searches in Orhei and Chisinau in a case of electoral corruption and illegal financing of parties: 26 people have suspect status

The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors of the Chisinau City Prosecutor's Office have announced the conduct of 50 searches on the territory of Orhei district and Chisinau city, as part of a criminal case targeting illegal financing of political parties under aggravating circumstances. The criminal investigation actions take place following the administration of evidence related to the 2025 parliamentary elections and the identification of new circumstances relevant to the case.

According to preliminary data, the criminal case targets the activity of a group of people, including mayors, district and local councillors, as well as individuals not employed in the public sector. They are suspected of having implemented a criminal mechanism to influence voters in the period leading up to the election. Specifically, the persons concerned would have identified and recruited voters and/or supporters, to whom they would have promised and offered money, goods, services or other benefits, to determine them to exercise their electoral rights in a certain way or to support certain political formations. At the same time, these actions would have been carried out from financial sources prohibited by law and undeclared in the reports on the financial management of the parties.

In parallel, actions of electoral corruption are also being investigated, manifested by offering material benefits to voters to influence their voting behaviour. Following the searches, documents, information storage devices and other means of evidence relevant to the criminal case were seized.

At this stage, 26 persons have the status of suspects, being investigated at liberty. The NAC specifies that all persons in respect of whom criminal investigation actions are being carried out benefit from the presumption of innocence, until a final court decision is rendered.