Of Moldova’s 44 police inspectorates, 17 are currently operating without chiefs. Some of them left before the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior changed. This was stated by Interior Minister Andrei Năstase on TV8’s "Cutia Neagră" show.

“Some left before this. Others left around the date of June 8. While I didn’t do a lot of firing myself, I appealed to the conscience of those in the Ministry of the Interior and in the subordinated forces, in particular the police inspectorates, and told them that those who had done wrong things would do everyone a favor and leave,” said Năstase.

The minister says he made this call publicly and there wasn't any pressure or arm-twisting."I told them that time will come when a free justice, some free prosecutors will deal with each one separately. At the same time, of course, I ordered a host of internal investigations, many are still in progress, many are already completed. Some of those completed are already on the prosecutors’ desks", said Andrei Năstase.

The minister added that the officers working in the Special Operations Division of the National Investigation Inspectorate, which he earlier announced would be disbanded, are facing internal probes, with some cases already taken over by prosecutors. "Some of them continue to work in the Ministry of the Interior, some were let go, while the Division faces dissolution. Processes are underway as a result of which some of them, the good ones, will stay and carry on their duties in other subdivisions of the Ministry,” says Năstase.

On July 26, the minister announced that he was going to dissolve the Special Operations Division, which he branded “the political police”. Its officers were reportedly involved in wiretapping and spying on businessmen, journalists and politicians, among others.