Ion Stefanita, director of the Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration of the Ministry of Culture, accuses the Moldovan authorities of doing nothing to preserve the cultural heritage. He made such statements in the talk show “Public eye” on Noroc TV channel, IPN reports.

“Of the 32 complaints we submitted since 2012, the Prosecutor’s Office rejected 16 for the reason that there was no offense component in the reported acts. No answer was provided over another ten complaints, while of the six cases that were sent to court we finally won only one. We are often shown court decisions allowing demolishing constructions that form part of the category of architectural monuments,” stated Stefanita.

The official accused the local public authorities, especially those of Chisinau, of not cooperating with the Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration and of issuing authorizations for demolishing or reconstructing architectural monuments. He also accused the authorities of complicity in destroying buildings that form part of the cultural heritage. “There were destroyed a number of monuments of culture, especially in Chisinau, like the building located at 52 Eminescu 52 St and the building of the former horticulture school. The accomplices were persons holding high-ranking posts,” said Stefanita.

He also said that the authorities have an inappropriate attitude to the protection of the monuments forming part of the cultural heritage. “The annual budget for restoring monuments is only 3 million lei. This money is enough for restoring a building only. The Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration has only seven employees who cannot cope with the situation,” said the Agency’s director.