The Foundation “Otwarty Dialog” (“Open Dialog”) and its founder Ludmila Kozlowska benefitted from doubtful disbursements from offshore areas. The Foundation was financed implicitly with funds obtained through the money laundering scheme “Laundromat” and through the banking fraud committed in Moldova. It also offered illegal finances to the Party “Action and Solidarity” and the Party “Platform Dignity and Truth” and their leaders, says the commission of inquiry’s report that was debated in the November 16 sitting of Parliament. A part of the report was examined behind closed doors.
The commission’s chairman Igor Vremea said that after studying, processing and systemizing the collected materials and the information provided in the hearings, it was established that the foundations “Otwarty Dialog”, “Open Dialog Foundation” and “Silk Road Biuro Analiz i Informacji” were registered in Poland by Ludmila Kozlowska, who is native of Sevastopol, Crimea, and holds Ukrainian and Russian nationality, and by her husband Bartosz Kramek, who is a citizen of Poland.
According to the report, “Otwarty Dialog” and Ludmila Kozlowska are financed with incomes coming from transactions with Russian military enterprises against which international sanctions were imposed, including by the EU and the U.S. They also benefitted from money earned from the delivery of armament to the states involved in regional conflicts and from offshore areas. Financing of at least €2.5 million was provided from the funds laundered through “Laundromat” operation performed in Moldova.
“Particular politicians in the Republic of Moldova allowed to be attracted and enrolled into diversionist activities staged by Ludmila Kozlowska and FOD against the Republic of Moldova, which were orchestrated and financed by foreign intelligence services. The fact that these realized the role, place and real goals of FOD and Ludmila Kozlowska and the consequences for the Republic of Moldova cannot be confirmed or refuted, but the real intentions of these Moldovan politicians cannot be established either,” says the report.
The commission recommended the Prosecutor General’s Office to examine the findings of the report and clarify and classify the involvement by FOD, affiliated persons and others in activities against Moldova’s national security, including to probe the allegations of treason, espionage and others and to hold those responsible accountable . At the request of Liberal-Democratic MP Tudor Deliu, the last part of the recommendation was excluded. Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration will inform the diplomatic corps and international organizations working in Moldova about the legal provisions that impose imperative restrictions on direct and indirect funding of parties, including through non-commercials organizations. The report will be submitted to the Council of Europe, OSCE, European Parliament, European Commission and other interested sides.
In his speech, Liberal MP Ion Apostol said the report can be discussed in critical terms only, but it contains an interesting aspect, namely the involvement of Russian intelligence services in schemes, and it is good that some of the colleagues, even ex-Communist ones, realized were the danger comes from. But a half truth is not a truth and the financing of other parties, of the campaign of President Igor Dodon and the party he headed and of Ilan Shor’s party should also be discussed. The report was discussed in a hurry in connection with the European Parliament’s Resolution of November 14 as the government decided to adopt a position on the EP’s criticism. The report is also designed to distract attention from the main issue - the banking fraud.
Liberal-Democratic MP Iurie Țap said the report is aimed at influencing the EP’s opinion, but this body has enough instruments to inform itself thoroughly about the developments in Moldova and not only. Even if the allegations from the report are not confirmed, the opposition is denigrated before the elections and such an approach is condemnable as it is a violation that affects the democratic standards and the rule of law.
Communist MP Oleg Reidman noted this document does not deserve to be paid considerable attention. The goal was to solve the tensions with the EU by this report, but the own mistakes cannot be masked. The commission of inquiry didn’t realize the goals of Parliament, the law and the Constitution in general.
Democratic MP Sergiu Sârbu said that when the commission was constituted, there were suspicions that something bad happens in the country and concerns related to the activity of this foundation in Moldova and other states. The report revealed awful things planned against Moldova, including unprecedented attacks on sovereignty arranged abroad. This is a harsh, probably necessary lesson for the future of democracy.
