Customs inspector Diana Cazacu, who was recently targeted in searches at the Airport and who is the daughter of MP Victoria Cazacu, said that her family was involved in a political scandal with hidden interests. She was drawn into this scandal after, at the beginning of last autumn, the director of the Customs Service Igor Talmazan, who recently tendered his resignation, discussed her potential appointment as head of the Chisinau International Airport Customs Post, IPN reports.
In a press briefing, Diana Cazacu stated that she has been working for state institutions for more than 10 years and in the period she worked consciously, professionally and correctly in the interests of the state. Even though she is the daughter of MP Victoria Cazacu, she has never been a public figure. “I haven’t had a single reprimand or disciplinary punishment so far and suddenly I got into an artificial scandal with political connotations, which is actually based on people’s personal interests and frustrations. After the searches carried out a week ago, I was classed as a suspect because there is not enough evidence to charge me,” said the customs officer.
According to her, after the former director of the Customs Service discussed her candidacy for the post of head of the Airport’s Customs Post, the person who holds this position began to tell their workmates that she intended to take his place. “Then I felt a change of attitude towards myself from the post’s head and I already intuited that various unpleasant surprises could be organized for me. It is regrettable that, following the searches, public attacks were launched on me and my family, especially against MP Victoria Cazacu (mother), who has nothing to do with my work for state institutions. Liability is individual. I’m personally responsible for my actions. My mother is not responsible for me and I am not responsible for my mother’s actions,” stated Diana Cazacu.
She addressed the country’s leadership. “Missis President Maia Sandu, we know each other and you know about me and the results of my work in the interests of the Republic of Moldova. You know me as an honest and professional person who has always worked in good faith. Mister Speaker of Parliament Igor Grosu, you know better than all others how I got to the Customs Service – by transfer from the SIS - an institution where I became inconvenient in 2022. I have always believed in fairness, in law, in the rule of law, which involves the separation of powers. But I have to agree with the former head of the Parliament’s Legal Commission Olesea Stamate, who said that we had too much televised justice in Moldova. My family and I have become an example of televised justice. I regret very much that even the senior state officials, without taking into account the presumption of innocence, without taking into account the principle of separation of powers, publicly hints that both I and my mother are already guilty of something,” said the customs inspector.
Last week, the National Anticorruption Center raided the Chisinau International Airport in a corruption and bribery case. Among the seven customs officers investigated is the MP’s daughter and the press reported another customs officer is the son of Socialist MP Radu Mudreac. According to the NAC, the customs officers asked for money from passengers to facilitate the illegal taking of various goods into or out of the country.
The National Standing Bureau of the Party of Action and Solidarity excluded MP Victoria Cazacu from the party. At the same time, the PAS repeatedly asked Victoria Cazacu to vacate the seat of MP.
