A group of councilors of Colonita, who form the majority on the local council, accuse the village’s mayor Angela Zapojoran of defying the common sense rules and of dividing the council into two camps. In a news conference at IPN on March 15, the councilors spoke about a number of actions taken by Angela Zapojoran, which they consider illegal.

Councilor Zinaida Gurulea said that during over half a year, the mayor and the local councils have led a real struggle. Angela Zapojoran, supported by six councilors, imposes her personal agenda in the meetings of the council, neglecting the interests of the village, which are defended by seven local councilors who form the majority. In the last two meetings, the seven councilors were intimidated and threatened with trials because they warn about the irregularities committed by the mayor.

According to Zinaida Gurulea, those who are loyal to Angela Zapojoran are called “patriots”, while the others “traitors”. Some of the issues fielded by the mayor that were rejected by the expert commission were illegally submitted to another commission for being endorsed.

Councilor Victoria Caraman said a financial inspection was ordered based on a request made by the group of the seven councilors. It was revealed that 29 low-value contracts weren’t registered and the jurist and the accountant of the mayor’s office, who are close to the mayor, weren’t employed on a contest basis. It was also established that almost 40 plots of land were sold at a much lower prices than the market value, even if by auction.

Councilor Dumitru Ghimpu noted that the last two meetings of the local council were real shows. The mayor and the six councilors who support her prepared decisions by which a number of agricultural plots that belong to them or their relatives were included in the built-up area so as to change their purpose and erect buildings on them. Other inhabitants of the village have waited for years to receive a plot on which to build a home. They are told to go and work, to earn money and to return to buy a plot.

Councilor Tatiana Foiu said she wasn’t allowed to speak during the last two meetings because she does not support the initiatives of the mayor. She was even told to vacate her seat. In the last meeting, the mayor came accompanied by an unknown person, who intimidated the councilors.

Colonita village forms part of Ciocana district of Chisinau municipality. It is situated 7 km from Chisinau and has a population of about 3,500.