November 23, 2010
CHISINAU -- Former Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has said one of the leading communist candidates in upcoming parliamentary elections was abducted and beaten in Chisinau on November 22, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

Voronin, head of the Communist Party, said former SIS intelligence service chief Artur Resetnicov was seized by unknown assailants who "tortured" him for five hours and gave him drugs.

Voronin said Resetnicov was found in the evening by his wife close to their home in Chisinau and taken to a hospital. Voronin said he suffered "multiple injuries," including to the head.

Moldovan Interior Ministry spokesman Chiril Motpan told a press conference today that police will investigate the case. But he said there are discrepancies concerning when the attack actually happened, and did not exclude the possibility it was faked.

Voronin said the ruling coalition -- the Alliance for European Integration -- is behind the attack.

Election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe say the election campaign has thus far been peaceful. The elections will be held on November 28.