Civic activists Vitalii Voznoi and Sergiu Ungureanu said they identified 25 illegal schemes for selling plots in the municipality of Chisinau, used by the municipality and courts of law, with the involvement of foreign companies that announced their intention to start businesses in Moldova.
In a news conference at IPN, Vitalii Voznoi, chairman of the public association “My dear city”, said nobody is against foreign investment that is designed to create jobs. The criticism is aimed at companies from offshore areas that are involved in corruption schemes together with the municipality.
According to the activist, some of the foreign investors close their eyes to the illegal schemes applied by the municipality in order to be able to build in the Park “Valea Trandafirilor”. The commercial complex “Dedeman” to sell building materials is to be erected on the territory of the former leather factory “Piele” SA. Instead of the Palace of Culture of Trade Unions, there is to be built the shopping center “Oceania”, while a hypermarket “Kaufland” is to be constructed on the territory of a kindergarten based in Buiucani district.
The activist also said that officials responsible for the construction of the hypermarket “Kaufland” obtained the authorization to fell 160 healthy trees, but ultimately cut 200 and were fined only 8,000 lei. “After this incident, the shop chain invoked the concept of social responsibility and announced the planting of 5,000 trees in Chisinau municipality,” stated Vitalii Voznoi.
Commenting on the intention to build a commercial complex on Ismail St, activist Sergiu Ungureanu, who represents the public association “Welfare”, said the area is polluted owing to the Tobacco Complex and the crowded artery, while the construction of a parking lot with 500 places near that complex will hamper traffic even more and will further pollute the environment. Sergiu Ungureanu considers the commercial centers should be erected outside the city.
The activists also said that all the official documents demonstrating the schemes by which land is sold can be accessed. They expect the local authorities will take measures to stop the projects that will have a negative impact on the capital city, infrastructure and environment.
