Training sessions on the particularities of the investigation and trial of electoral crimes

In order to strengthen the capacities of the actors in the judicial system regarding the prevention and combating of electoral crimes, the National Institute of Justice, in partnership with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and the Office of the Council of Europe in Chisinau, held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the seminar "Particularities of investigating and judging crimes of illegal financing of political parties, electoral competitors, initiative groups or electoral campaigns. Corruption passive".

The event was opened by the representatives of the organizing institutions: Ramona Strugariu, Director of the National Institute of Justice, Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, and Angelica Caraman, President of the Central Electoral Commission.

The training program, carried out in a hybrid format, brought together more than 20 judges and prosecutors, being facilitated by national and international experts: Oscar Sanchez Muñoz, substitute member of the Venice Commission, consultant of the Council of Europe (CoE), Pavel Postica, vice-president of the CEC, and INJ trainers – Ghennadi Epure, prosecutor in the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, CoE consultant, and Elena Cobzac, retired judge, CoE consultant.

The topics addressed covered aspects of regulation and application of legislation regarding the financing of political parties, the sources and mechanisms of financing political and electoral activities, as well as the differentiation between misdemeanors and crimes in the electoral context. The participants analyzed the national and international practice regarding the punishment of illegal financing and voter corruption, with relevant case studies being presented. Investigation methods and tactics, ways of accumulating evidence, criteria for individualizing sanctions and the particularities of examining cases in court, including from the perspective of national jurisprudence, were also discussed.

The training activity was organized within the Council of Europe project "Improving electoral practice in the Republic of Moldova, phase III".