Unexplained wealth of €714k uncovered in Moldova’s judicial vetting report
The Moldova Judicial Vetting Commission evaluated 69 magistrates in 2025, identifying significant financial integrity breaches. According to the annual report presented to Parliament, 20 judges resigned during the process, while 15 others failed due to unexplained wealth.
The Commission uncovered nearly 14 million MDL in unjustified assets, totaling approximately €714,285 (approx. 14,000,000 MDL). Individual discrepancies ranged from a minimum of €13,962 up to a peak of €191,411.
Integrity and promotion rates
The promotion rate for 2025 stood at 61%, consistent with the Commission’s historical average. Of the 49 subjects who completed the full evaluation, 30 were recommended for promotion while 19 failed to meet the criteria.
Financial integrity remains the primary hurdle for magistrates. While 14 cases involved unexplained wealth, investigators also documented one instance of tax evasion.
Ethical breaches and legal challenges
Ethical misconduct appeared less frequently, affecting only five subjects. These violations included disciplinary offenses, rulings conflicting with European Court of Human Rights standards, and unresolved conflicts of interest.
The Commission’s decisions faced 35 legal challenges, with 18 initiated in 2025 alone. To date, courts have ruled in favor of the Commission in 28 of these cases, most of which are heard by the Supreme Court of Justice.
Focus on appellate and anti-corruption courts
During 2025, the Commission finalized evaluations for most appellate court judges and candidates for vacant positions. It also reviewed lower-court judges who held leadership roles over the past five years.
Looking ahead, the Commission will prioritize pending evaluations for the Supreme Court of Justice and leadership positions. It will also assess 13 lower-court judges specializing in high-level corruption cases.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
