The head of the General Division of Education, Youth and Sport Tatiana Nagnibeda-Tverdohleb was also suspended from post for the period of the internal inquiry opened by the local authorities following irregularities identified at kindergartens. An order to this effect was signed by Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca. Under this, the post will be held on an interim basis by Valentina Cujba, who will ensure the suspension of deputies Viorica Negrei and Alexandru Fleas.

Contacted by IPN, Tatiana Nagnibeda-Tverdohleb said it is the mayor’s decision and there is the commission of inquiry that will determine the seriousness of the committed violations. “Everyone must answer – from institution manager to division head. The situation is unpleasant and regrettable and I perfectly understand the patents because I also have grandparents who attend our public kindergartens and the situation is not at all agreeable,” stated Tatiana Nagnibeda-Tverdohleb, noting the investigation will bring clarity and everyone will bear responsibility for what they did.

The heads of district education division of Chisinau were suspended from posts following the identified violations. Last week, 16 persons, nine of whom public servants of education divisions, were arrested by anticorruption officers on suspicion of involvement in the fixing of bids for purchasing food products for Chisinau schools and kindergartens. As a result of the bidding, spoiled products were supplied to kindergartens and a number of children were hospitalized with food poisoning.