The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova has appointed three new members to the Prosecutor Vetting Commission, following recent legislative changes to its composition, as outlined in Law No. 252/2023 on the external evaluation of prosecutors and judges.
Under the updated provisions, the number of Commission members has increased from 6 to 9, with five of the seats to be filled based on nominations from Moldova’s international development partners. Accordingly, Parliament has appointed two international members and one national member.
Laura Oana Ștefan (Romania) is an anti-corruption policy expert with significant experience in justice reform and rule of law promotion. She coordinated the anti-corruption policy program at Romania’s Ministry of Justice and was actively involved in reforming the Romanian prosecution system. Throughout her career, she has taken part in numerous international evaluation and technical assistance missions in the field of justice, working with organizations such as the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and the World Bank. She is widely recognized for her contributions to strengthening public integrity and for her hands-on expertise in assessing judicial and anti-corruption systems across Central and Eastern Europe.
Pierangelo Padova (Italy) is a seasoned magistrate with a long-standing career in the fight against organized crime. He served as a prosecutor with Italy’s National Anti-Mafia and Counter-Terrorism Directorate. Since 2020, he has been an elected member of Italy’s self-governing body for judges and prosecutors. Since 2005, Mr. Padova has actively contributed to international legal assistance projects, working with European institutions and international organizations to support justice reform in countries undergoing democratic transition. His expertise combines hands-on legal practice with training, evaluation, and mentoring of justice professionals.
Ion Graur (Republic of Moldova) is a lawyer with extensive experience in justice-sector consulting and research, with a strong focus on the protection of the rights of individuals in vulnerable situations. Over the years, he has collaborated with both national and international institutions, working in Moldova and abroad with organizations such as the Council of Europe, OSCE, UNICEF, IOM, and the Office of the Ombudsman. His work has focused on legal reform, human rights, and access to justice.
The appointment of these three new members strengthens the Prosecutor Vetting Commission’s capacity to carry out its mandate of assessing the ethical and financial integrity of prosecutors, in line with principles of transparency, professionalism, and impartiality.