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Cristian Ghinea: Corruption scandals put a strain on EU-Moldova relations


https://www.ipn.md/en/cristian-ghinea-corruption-scandals-put-a-strain-on-eu-moldova-7978_1019942.html

The situation in the banking system and other corruption-related scandals, like the concession of the Chisinau airport, put a strain on the relations between Moldova and the European Union, Cristian Ghinea, director of the Office of the Romanian Center for European Policies in Moldova, said in the talk show “European horizon” on TVR Moldova channel, IPN reports.

“The European officials became stunned when they found out about the concession of the Chisinau airport. Earlier, EU investors expressed interest in the airport, but the rulers showed themselves to be very protective, invoking it was a facility of strategic importance. Later, it became known that the airport was leased out to a Russian company. In reality it was taken over by Ilan Shor,” stated Ghinea.

Speaking about Ilan Shor, Cristian Ghinea said this acted in collusion with high-ranking Moldovan officials. “It’s not known how much Shor got from the banking business. But a person cannot walk through Chisinau and have such presents as the airport and others falling on his head from the sky. What the anticorruption prosecutor said about the Kroll report, that it is not a proof, is not an appropriate reaction,” he stated.

Cristian Ghinea believes the authorities will pay for these scandals. “We speak about five years of continuous crisis and political instability. The current rulers have been in power for five years and will pay. Before them, Voronin and Dodon also robbed the country, but will not answer for this anymore. The events that took place in Chisinau last Sunday speak for themselves. The people protested against a government that declares itself pro-European, carrying EU flags,” he said.