Ghimpu: Voronin flew by helicopter during electoral campaigns at a cost of $30,000

Acting President Mihai Ghimpu denies the accusations made by Communist MP Igor Dodon. In a news conference on July 12, Dodon said Ghimpu's flight by helicopter to the flood-hit areas cost the budget US$10,000. Mihai Ghimpu said he flew there to talk to the flood victims and accuse former head of state Vladimir Voronin of spending US$30,000 on flights by helicopter during the electoral period last year, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Igor Dodon, an hour by helicopter costs US$2,500. “These are lies. I donated about 25,000 lei to the flood victims, not 1,000 lei as they said. I did not use the helicopter in the electoral campaigns, as Voronin did and spent US$30,000 on this,” Mihai Ghimpu said, stressing he will demand that the Prosecutor General's Office casts light on the issue. Mihai Ghimpu added he will fly to the affected areas whenever necessary. “If I hadn't gone there, I wouldn't have known the situation,” he said. Last week, Mihai Ghimpu paid a fact-finding visit to the affected areas in Briceni district.