The caretaker director of the Monument Inspection and Restoration Agency Ion Ștefăniță said that pressure is being exerted on the Agency and on him and, if this is not stopped, he will go on hunger strike right in his office. Contacted by IPN for details, Ion Ștefăniță said the pressure comes from superiors from the Ministry of Culture and from ex-minister Liliana Nicolaescu Onofrei and is aimed at removing him from post.

Ion Ștefăniță said that one of the reasons for the exertion of pressure is the way in which the National Council of Historical Monuments votes. The dismissal of the ex-minister’s son for irresponsible attitude to his duties is a personal reason. He received private messages from Liliana Nicolaescu Onofrei, which he describes as pressure against the National Council of Historical Monuments.

The caretaker director of the Monument Inspection and Restoration Agency said that he asked the diplomatic missions to monitor the Council’s work and had a meeting with a consultant of the Embassy of France in Moldova on October 28. He informed the consultant about the absence of official communication with the Ministry of Culture and about the unofficial communication with ex-minister Liliana Nicolaescu Onofrei. He also said that the process of coordinating permissive documents for construction works has been blocked for three months as the new composition of the Council hasn’t been yet elected following the disbandment of the previous makeup in August.

Ion Ștefăniță noted that he does not stick to his job and will either tender his resignation or will be allowed to work further.

Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei was unavailable for comment.