A return to the old practice of exerting insidious political influence over the judiciary, compounded by ill-considered legislation, threatens to undermine the gains of Moldova’s legal and judicial reform process.
The 2002 constitutional reforms have increased the possibility of executive interference in the judiciary. Between 2002 and 2003, the Moldovan Parliament passed legislative reforms including new civil and criminal codes, amendments to the laws on the status of judges and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The practice of so-called “telephone justice” – where government officials instruct judges on how to decide particular cases – is widespread. Moreover, judges enjoy little internal independence. Independent since 1991, the Republic of Moldova is currently discussing EU integration, while there are still tensions with regard to the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria, unrecognized internationally.
Republic of Maldova-Attacks on Justice 2005-Publications-2008 (full text, PDF)