Moldova’s Consul General in Istanbul Veaceslav Filip was arrested in Chisinau. The diplomat is suspected of involvement in an illegal document issuing scheme to enable Arabian citizens to stay in or transit Moldova and of facilitating thus the crossing of Moldova by terrorist elements, IPN reports.
Acting Prosecutor General Eduard Harunjen told a news conference there are reasonable suspicions that the consul acted in collusion with a group of Arabian citizens in Chisinau, who employed an illegal document issuing scheme to help their nationals to reach Moldova. Meanwhile, from other sources the anticorruption prosecutors found out that Veaceslav Filip received money and goods on the territory of Moldova’s Consulate in Istanbul for hastening and simplifying the provision of consular services. Money for the purpose was transmitted in the presence of officers under cover. The persons paid several hundred dollars for obtaining the necessary documents.
The consul is also suspected of flagrantly violating the legislation when issuing entry and stay documents for Moldova to citizens of Arab origin and the international terrorism fighting policy.
“The special investigation measures taken Security and Intelligence Service officers under cover revealed things that shocked us a little. It is serious case for the country’s security. We want to give a clear signal that such a practice, which we suspect is not unique, is applied in other countries too,” said Eduard Harunjen.
At the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, a person was already sent to Istanbul to carry out the duties of consul general on a temporary basis.
Director of the Security and Intelligence Service Mihai Balan said it was established that the whole personnel of the Consulate in Istanbul was involved in acts of corruption, forgetting that they were named to posts to protect the national interests and the interests of the Moldovan citizens. “Moldova is not a target for terrorist attacks, but it has evidently become a country transited by terrorist elements, given the situation in the world and the region,” stated the official.
Mihai Balan added they possess information that other consular offices of Moldova also violate the legislation and commit acts of corruption.
Veaceslav Filip will be held in the remand prison of the National Anticorruption Center for 72 hours initially.
