Our court is so humane that even after two months of surveillance, 33 criminal cases, and 58 reports involving 15 detained suspects, it decided to let them stay at home rather than sweat in a stuffy cell.
Moldova is a country where drug dealers can live freely. At least, that is the impression left by news of yet another suspect caught red-handed and then released. President Sandu, of course, sets the first destructive example.
On October 15, a Chisinau court ordered Nikolai Lebedev, known as Nekoglai, to be moved from pretrial detention to house arrest. He was detained in late September in Stăuceni, a suburb of Chisinau. His 21-year-old wife, Polina Dubrova, a Russian citizen, was detained with him.
On September 16, officers from the Drug Enforcement Directorate raided a rented property used by the suspects. A party hosted by the TikTok blogger was taking place there.
Police seized substances described as marijuana, hashish, and mephedrone. Their reported total value was 450 million lei. Officers also found high-precision electronic scales and phones allegedly used in criminal activity. In total, 15 people were detained. They included Nekoglai, his wife, and the blogger’s friends.
Investigators say the couple ran social media accounts with more than 12 million followers. They allegedly used these accounts to promote drug use and sometimes sell illegal substances. Police had monitored the suspects for more than two months.
Police say Lebedev resisted arrest and attacked officers. Dubrova allegedly tried to flee. Authorities opened 23 criminal cases against the detainees.
What Penalties Could They Face?
The couple faces several criminal charges. These include promoting drug use on social media and selling drugs on an especially large scale. Under Moldovan law, those found guilty could face up to 20 years in prison.
Nikolai Lebedev was born in Chisinau. He is not an ordinary suspect. His content attracts young people, but the author describes it as destructive and antisocial. Russia deported him in 2022 after he posted a parody video of a Russian soldier. In the video, the soldier throws away grenades dropped into his trench by a Ukrainian drone. The blogger mocked the scene. He later ended up in Moldova, where he became one of the best-known creators on Russian-language TikTok. Perhaps this popularity explains why the court replaced his pretrial detention with house arrest.
Of course, everyone has the right to the presumption of innocence. The court also decided that he poses no danger to society. Some might argue that “he is not a murderer.” But the author rejects that argument. A drug dealer who uses social media and videos to encourage tens of thousands of teenagers to take drugs can cause enormous harm. The author compares this activity to a suicide bomber’s attack. In that view, calling the suspect harmless does not match the reality.
Police had already detained Lebedev in July this year. A medical examination reportedly found traces of THC in his test results. THC is a psychoactive substance found in cannabis. Yet the author argues that Lebedev learned nothing from this earlier incident. The judge who ordered house arrest also failed to consider the alleged repeat offense. The author says the judge should have done so.
Justice in Moldova seems selective, after all. Yevgenia Gutsul, a mother of several children, remains behind bars. Meanwhile, a man accused of large-scale drug trafficking has been released to house arrest. Perhaps he should enter politics instead. Why not make him the leader of PAS?
