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Moscow concerned over persecution of advocates of dialogue with Russia — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that this situation was Moldova’s internal affair and expressed hope that all Igor Dodon’s legal rights would be protected

MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. Moscow considers the situation around former President of Moldova Igor Dodon an internal affair of Moldova, but it is concerned over persecution of advocates of dialogue with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday.

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Moldovan authorities conduct search of ex-President Dodon’s home

"First, this is Moldova’s internal affair. Second, we are of course worried that such practice and persecution is being once again applied to advocates of development of friendly, mutually beneficial ties with the Russian Federation, with our country," the spokesman said, commenting on the situation.

He added that he hopes that all Dodon’s legal rights will be protected.

About the situation around Moldova’s ex-president

On Tuesday, employees of the Prosecutor General’s Office searched Dodon’s residence. Last week, acting Prosecutor General Dumitru Robu ordered to open criminal case against Dodon over video footage, published in June 2019. The video in question was filmed with a hidden camera in the office of then-leader of the Democratic Party, oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, who controlled the parliament and the government in Moldova.

On the video, Plahotniuc, who actively collected blackmail on politicians, tries to hand over a black bag, presumably containing money, to Dodon. Despite Dodon didn’t accept the package, opposition parties accused Dodon of corruption. In several days, TV channels controlled by Plahotniuc published the video and accused Dodon of treason. However, in several days after that, the oligarch lost his power and fled to Miami after his conversation with US Ambassador in Chisinau Derek Hogan. The power was taken by the coalition of the Party of Socialists and the ACUM alliance; one of its leaders Maia Sandu was appointed as the Prime Minister. Then, the Anti-corruption prosecutor’s office of Moldova inspected the video footage and found no elements of crime. The Chisinau court refused to open a criminal case against him. However, last week, the appeals chamber of Chisinau canceled the court ruling.

Dodon himself believes that the authorities seek to divert popular attention from their failures in state management and the rapidly deteriorating economic situation. He underscored that he has no intention to flee the country and prepares to fight his opponents decisively.

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