The Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” will demand to start an investigation and identify the persons from different ministries who lobbied for the interests of the Rybnitsa steel works. The party also demands to annul the request to the EU to lift the restrictions on the export of scrap iron to the Republic of Moldova. Ex-MP Alexandru Slusari said the former Democratic MP Vladimir Andronache is behind this business and this is helped by “BPM-Trading SRL” that aims to monopolize the scrap iron, concrete and cement market, IPN reports.

Alexandru Slusari told a news conference that Moldova faces an economic diversion on the part of the separatist regime, through the concerted actions of the Rybnitsa steel works and its exclusive dealer “BPM-Trading SRL”, in coordination with Vladimir Andronache, which are very close to monopolizing the scrap iron, concrete and cement market. The given actions are taken with the assistance of government officials.

Last November, the European Union, in the context of the implementation of the Green Deal, banned the export of scrap iron intended for recycling to Moldova owing to the non-observances of the environmental requirements. The Rybnitsa steel works, which is the main contributor of the Transnistrian region and has no connection with the budget of the Republic of Moldova, was the only beneficiary of this export. “This way, the EU offered the opportunity for significantly diminishing the economic basis of the separatist enclave,” noted the ex-MP.

In December 2021, the steel producing company from the left side of the Nistru staged a lobby attack. It demanded that the Moldovan authorities should ask to urgently lift the restrictions. According to those from PPPDA, what is the most serious is the fact that representatives of the government contribute to the economic expansion of the separatists. The Ministry of Environment, without public consultations and broad discussions with the bodies that ensure the country’s security, sent a letter to the EU saying it supports the Rybnitsa steel works’ request to lift the restrictions on the export of scrap iron to the Republic of Moldova. 

The PPPDA demands to start an internal inquiry and, if necessary, a criminal case over this letter and to conduct a broad tax inspection at “BPM -Trading SRL” with the involvement of the Money Laundering Prevention and Combatting Service, given the massive use of funds of doubtful origin at this company.

The Ministry of Environment last week announced that the Moldovan authorities sent a letter to the European Commission, asking this to correct the earlier committed mistakes and to adjust the list of waste that can be exported from the EU to Moldova.