Alexandru Machidon was named acting general prosecutor
Alexandru Machidon has been appointed as the acting prosecutor general. The Superior Council of Prosecutors made this decision during its meeting on May 28. In the public hearing, he outlined his priorities for the interim period.
"My immediate priorities will be to review all criminal cases of significant importance, assess the risks associated with these cases, and identify the reasons for any delays. Criminal cases, especially those handled by specialized prosecutor's offices, are the ones that attract more attention and interest."
Machidon also mentioned that if he observes a lack of progress, he does not rule out the possibility of changing the composition of the investigation teams. He stated, "For each case, we must examine the reasons that delay criminal prosecutions. If necessary, the prosecution group should be changed."
He also advocated for the completion of the reform of the territorial prosecutors' offices and emphasized the importance of organizing competitions for management positions, which are currently held by interim appointees. "A priority I see is to initiate, with the participation of the Superior Council of Prosecutors, the competitive procedures for appointing chief prosecutors. This is crucial because interim positions create uncertainty within these offices," he explained.
Machidon stressed that the institution must maintain impartiality in the relationship between the prosecutor's office and politics. “The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Moldova plays an essential role in a state governed by the rule of law. It ensures that the rule of law is upheld and defends the rights and freedoms of citizens. This role becomes even more critical when the position of Prosecutor General is held on an interim basis. During such times, the institution must exhibit a special balance to avoid any deviations from democratic norms and uphold the principle of separation of powers,” he stated.
Alexandru Machidon is a prosecutor with management experience in the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Moldova. He has served as Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Criuleni District Prosecutor's Office and the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Causes. He was also Acting Chief Prosecutor of the Orhei District Prosecutor's Office. In 2024, he was appointed Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Causes, a position currently held on an interim basis.
Two candidates have submitted applications for the role of Acting Prosecutor General: Octavian Iachimovschi, Deputy of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, and Alexandru Machidon, Deputy of the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Causes (PCCOCS). The Superior Council of Prosecutors, which is currently reviewing the candidates' applications, has confirmed this information.
It's worth noting that Octavian Iachimovschi also advanced to the final stage of the competition for the Chief Prosecutor position of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office. The interview stage is scheduled for June 10, starting at 10:00 AM, at the headquarters of the Superior Council of Prosecutors.
According to the legislation, the acting Prosecutor General must be a citizen of the Republic of Moldova, proficient in the Romanian language, possess a higher education in the legal field, have an impeccable reputation, not have been declared guilty of crimes or be subject to judicial protection measures, and have at least ten years of experience in the legal domain.
The position of Prosecutor General became vacant after Ion Munteanu was appointed as a judge at the Supreme Court of Justice. The presidential decree regarding his appointment was signed late last week and published in the Official Gazette on Monday. On Tuesday, Ion Munteanu took an oath before the members of the Superior Council of Magistracy.
