PAS MP Radu Marian said a parliamentary working group was constituted together with PAS MPs Vladimir Bolea, Galina Sajin, Lilian Carp and Ion Groza to investigate “the illegalities committed a Moldsilva”. According to the MP, the volume of cut wood is by 40% larger than the annual limit authorized by the Government. They will ask the National Anticorruption Center, the Security and Intelligence Service, the Environmental Protection Agency and experts to become involved in the investigation, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Party of Action and Solidarity.

“The revenues from selling the illegally cut wood amount to at least 127 million lei, half of which goes to forest company heads and the central administration of Moldsilva, which is protected by the PSRM. The incomes are divided this way: 25% to the forester, 25% to the engineer and forestry company chief, 50% to the enterprise manager and Moldsilva administration,” Radu Marian posted on his Facebook page.

According to him, the illegal felling of trees is a too serious problem for being ignored, especially when Moldova ranks last in Europe by the share of forest area.

In a comment on its Facebook page, Moldsilva Agency complains about the pressure exerted on it, saying this will affect the subsequent activity in the forestry sector. “The administration and board of directors of Moldsilva Agency reserve the right to go to court whenever calumnies are made against foresters by politicians and others for evil and denigrating purposes.” The institution requests to create a working group of specialists in the field and scientists of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, who would assess the real situation in the forestry sector and would study thoroughly any reported case so as not to allow erroneous interpretations to affect the development of the country’s green heritage.

Contacted by IPN for a comment, Nicolae Munteanu, chief forest engineer of Moldsilva, said the Agency and his mates earlier were also accused of alleged illegalities, but the issue stopped at the stage of discussions. If the announced working group is constituted, he will offer it all the necessary support.