Packages with food and political materials distributed at an electoral meeting in Cimișlia with supporters of the political bloc 'Victory'

In the context of the presidential elections and the referendum on October 20, 2024, the defendants participated on September 29, 2024, in organizing an electoral meeting in a restaurant in Cimișlia.

During this meeting, promotional political materials of the political bloc "Victory" were distributed, as well as packages with the symbolism of the electoral competitor containing food products. According to the authorities, the purpose of this action was to influence the voters' voting material.

First court: Conviction

The decision under review concerns an accusation of electoral corruption under Article 181¹ of the Penal Code, charged against the defendants in various forms of participation, namely as organizer and accomplices, consisting of offering goods in the form of food packages during a pre-election meeting held in a restaurant, with the alleged purpose of influencing the voting choice in the presidential elections and referendum.

The case was predominantly built on the statements of witnesses who participated in the event, most of whom confirmed both the holding of the meeting and the distribution of the packages. The court of first instance found the defendants guilty of corrupting voters and imposed penalties in the form of differentiated monetary fines, establishing a fine of 50,000 lei for the organizer and fines of 45,000 lei and 40,000 lei for the accomplices.

At the same time, the court rejected as unfounded the prosecutor's request for the confiscation of amounts of 32,040 lei and 350 euros, noting the lack of proof of their criminal nature and a direct link to the alleged act, ordering the return of the amounts and seized goods. Currently, the case is under examination at the appellate court. The last hearing took place on March 25, 2026, and was postponed at the request of the defender in the interests of the defendant Demian Ion, with the next hearings scheduled for July 28, 2026, and August 6, 2026.