The mayor of Bacioi commune Vitalie Salari made an appeal to international organizations and asked for political asylum from the embassies working in Chisinau because he and his family are in danger. The mayor said Democratic MP Constantin Tutu and local councilors of the Democratic Party (PDM) and the Party of Socialists expert pressure on him. Not only he and his family, but also the residents of Bacioi, who freely voted in the local elections of 2015, suffer as a result.
In a news conference at IPN, Vitalie Salari said that when he was elected mayor, he ordered to set up a team that investigated the illegalities committed by the former administration of the commune. Multiple violations were identified as a result, related to the illegal allotment of dozens of plots of land that were actually intended for young families from Bacioi. The law enforcement agencies were notified of the findings. Later, the Council’s secretary, who signed all the decisions to allot the plots and who was suspended from post, joined the PDM. She resorted to such a gesture in order to secure protection in the criminal case in which she was involved. In April, the secretary was acquitted by the ordinary court and wasn’t even banned from holding public posts.
Vitalie Șalari noted that even if there is no definitive decision as the judgement passed by the first court was challenged in the Appeals Court, the Democratic and Socialist councilors convoked the meeting of the local council and decided to reinstate the secretary. The meeting was called illegally and resulted in a conflict.
The mayor of Bacioi said he recently had a discussion with MP Constantin Tutu, who asked that he should offer them the posts of deputy mayor and secretary of the Council. This way the PDM aims to take control of the Bacioi mayor’s office before the parliamentary elections of this autumn. The stake is the single-member constituency that is to be construed in Bacioi.
Vitalie Salari also said that the eight criminal cases against him were fabricated with the aim of exerting pressure on him. He prepared a number of applications to international organizations, the U.S. Embassy and the embassies of other states working in Chisinau. He also asked for protection from the law enforcement agencies even if he does not trust them. “I’m concerned about my health and the health of my family, my children. All these acts involve real dangers,” he stated.
Deputy mayor of Bacioi Ilie Leahu said the created situation is regrettable because the activity of the Council’s secretary is blocked. At the local level, there is no place for politics. The local elected officials should be preoccupied with the problems of the locals and the development of the community.
Corneliu Pintea, chairman of the Chisinau local organization of the National Unity Party (PUN), said the mayor of Bacioi and a number of local councilors joined the PUN because they share the same values. After the mayor made this announcement, he started to be pressurized and this fact has a negative impact on the locals. “The National Unity Party demands to stop exerting any kind of pressure on the mayor of Bacioi commune Vitalie Salari. Working conditions should be created at the mayor’s office. The PUN will be near the mayor and his team that represent it in Bacioi and the party’s president of honor Traian Basescu is also near,” stated Corneliu Pintea.
