Training organized by OSCE in partnership with DIICOT Romania and INJ, for judges and prosecutors from the Republic of Moldova, in the field of recovery of virtual assets

Between March 23-25, 2026, the thematic school "Virtual Assets Thematic School for Judiciary" was held in Bucharest, organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in partnership with the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) and the National Institute of Justice of the Republic of Moldova.

At the opening of the event, the chief prosecutor of the Organized Crime and Terrorism Investigation Directorate (DIICOT), Alina Albu, highlighted the complexity of the modern criminal phenomenon, showing that the effective investigation of cross-border crimes involving virtual assets requires concerted efforts and close collaboration between criminal prosecution bodies from different jurisdictions. For her part, the director of the National Institute of Justice, Ramona Strugariu, mentioned the strategic importance of this workshop, stressing that the adaptation of the judicial system to the new digital realities and the approach to current topics is a priority in the process of training judges and prosecutors.

The event brought together judges and prosecutors from the Republic of Moldova, offering them the opportunity to strengthen their skills in the field of investigation, tracking and recovery of virtual assets - a field of major topicality in the context of technological developments and cybercrime.

The program included sessions and practical exercises dedicated to the following topics:

• early cooperation mechanisms in the investigation of cases involving virtual assets;
• INTERPOL's role in sharing information and facilitating investigations;
• collection and presentation of evidence based on blockchain technology;
• virtual asset seizure and confiscation procedures;
• addressing procedural challenges before the courts.

The activities were supported by high-level international experts, including:

• Anita Veternik – prosecutor and expert at Eurojust;
• Arina Corsei Vultureanu – prosecutor, head of the Service for Combating Computer Crime within DIICOT;
• Lenche Ristoska – prosecutor and Eurojust expert;
• Investigative Officer with INTERPOL.

During the three days, participants were engaged in cross-border asset seizure case studies as well as hands-on exercises simulating court proceedings, including presenting blockchain evidence in court.

Participation in this international platform offered practitioners from the Republic of Moldova the opportunity to accumulate relevant and applicable international expertise in their professional activity. At the same time, the exchange of best practices and experience between participants and experts was an essential element for strengthening institutional capacities.

The National Institute of Justice reaffirms its commitment to support the continuous professional development of judges and prosecutors, by facilitating access to high-level international training.