A number of energy experts say the citizens of the Republic of Moldova in 2008 were defrauded of US$14.5 million as a result of a scheme to purchase electrical energy. The scheme involved incumbent Presided Igor Dodon, who then served as Minister of Economy, and Parliament Speaker Zinaida Grechanyi, who was then Premier. The experts said criminal proceedings were instituted, but these were dropped without the case being investigated.
In a news conference at IPN, expert Tudor Șoitu said that according to a document obtained from the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER), until April 2008 Moldova imported electricity directly from the Ukrainian supplier Ukrinterenergo at the price of 4 cents per kwh. As a result of the negotiations held in Kiev by Igor Dodon, then Minister of Economy, an intermediary appeared in the power importation scheme in May 2008 - Energopartner. Igor Dodon was named head of the group of negotiators by an order signed by Zinaida Grechanyi, who then held the post of Prime Minister. The contract was signed by Alexandru Gusev, who was then director of Energocom – an enterprise subordinate to the Ministry of Economy.
In May 2008, Energopartner supplied 30% of the electricity at the price of 5.3 cents/kwh. The other 70% was supplied by Ukrinterenergo for 4 cents/kwh. In July, the first company supplied already 72% of the power at a higher price, while in October the price was raised from 5.3 to 5.8 cents/kwh. In May - December 2028 alone, Energopartner made a profit of US$14.5 million from the difference in electricity prices. According to Tudor Șoitu, Igor Dodon in a program admitted that he personally negotiated the contract and the conditions were very good. “We want to know who these conditions were good for? Who benefited from these millions? Mister Dodon, please explain,” stated Tudor Șoitu.
Energy expert Sergiu Tofilat said the electric power for all the consumers grew more expensive as a result of the implementation of this scheme. In July 2008, the NAER increased the power tariff by 12%. It’s not clear why the then NAER director didn’t notify the Prosecutor General’s Office of the intermediary company that appeared between Moldova and Ukraine, causing damage to the consumers.
The expert also said that in October 2017, he and his colleagues filed a complaint to the PGO, providing also relevant evidence. In November 2017, he was informed by prosecutor Lilian Bacalâm by a letter that criminal proceedings were instituted. But the prosecutor dropped the case one month later without informing any of those who signed the complaint, violating thus their right to challenge the prosecutor’s actions. Sergiu Tofilat noted that he recently submitted a request for information about the stage at which the case is now and received a response saying the case was dropped one month after testimony was given. He asked to resume the investigation and to hold prosecutor Lilian Bacalâm accountable.
Expert Victor Parlicov does not think that the PGO, one month after being notified that a criminal case was started, took all the necessary measures to prove the innocence or that there were no elements of a crime in this case. He called on Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo to take this case under control.
The experts noted they are ready to offer all the necessary information to prosecutors.
