Moldova’s Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) has ordered the full resumption of the corruption case known as “kuliok” (the bag) involving former president and current MP Igor Dodon, Moldpres reported on November 24. The proceedings relate to allegations that Dodon accepted a bribe from oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc in 2019, when Dodon was serving as head of state.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 25, 2026, according to the court’s decision. The trial was restarted after a change in the judicial panel, which legally requires the investigation phase to begin again.

Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office head Marcel Dumbrăvan told Moldpres that the court instructed all parties to submit an updated list of evidence.

“As part of the judicial investigation, all parties involved are required to present the updated list of evidence to be examined in court. This decision is enforceable, was sent personally and cannot be appealed. Therefore, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office must comply with and execute this decision. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for tomorrow,” he said.

The prosecutor added that the team representing the state remains unchanged and that existing procedural requests and objectives will stand. He noted that expert analyses and links to other criminal files, where supported by valid conclusions, will be treated as binding under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The replacement of judge Ion Malanciuc—appointed to the Constitutional Court earlier this year—prompted the restart of the investigation. The case had previously been examined by judges Ghenadie Eremciuc, Malanciuc and panel president Stella Bleşceaga. Last week, the court informed the parties that Vladislav Gribincea had joined the panel, allowing hearings to resume.

In earlier stages, the court heard 15 prosecution witnesses and reviewed extensive documentary evidence. The criminal investigation, known publicly as the “kuliok” case, was reopened on May 18, 2022, after the Chisinau Court of Appeal overturned a lower court ruling that had declined to initiate proceedings against Dodon.

The case centres on a video from June 2019 showing Dodon with Plahotniuc and Serghei Iaralov.

At the time the video was released, a ruling coalition formed by Dodon's Socialists (PSRM) and the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) emerged as the ruling force to replace Plahotniuc's Democratic Party, and the case was not really taken seriously until Dodon and his party lost elections.