The current government continues to keep power based on blackmail and criminal cases started by order, while Vladimir Plahotniuc is the key controller in the Republic of Moldova, ex-Premier Ion Sturza stated in the program “In Depth” on PRO TV Chisinau channel, IPN reports.
“The practice of blackmail and cases started by order was borrowed from Vladimir Voronin, who opened up old wounds and rubbed salt into these. Those who are absolutely inconvenient are jailed, while those who are necessary are blackmailed through criminal cases. I do not pity Filat and those guys who were actually petty swindlers. We saw the bruises on the face of Platon. Filat was also beaten cruelly in jail and then said that he hit his head against the table. Someone should think that only six persons can flee the country by that VIP plane, that they will remain and will have to answer for everyone,” said the businessman.
Sturza noted that ex-President Nicolae Timofti was also blackmailed by Plahotniuc when he had to propose Pavel Filip for the premiership. “Timofti was blackmailed cruelly, with his family, his three sons. I took security measures for Timofti and his family then and informed foreign ambassadors. One of Timofti’s sons left the Republic of Moldova then with the assistance of the Embassy of Germany in Chisinau. Nicolae Timofti enjoyed powerful support from the foreign diplomats, but ultimately gave up as he was afraid. I humanly understand Timofti. He wasn’t ready for the presidency and this post was beyond him. He finally apologized to Plahotniuc because he wanted to have a quiet old age,” he stated.
The former Prime Minister said he possesses reliable information that Dodon in Moscow negotiated the post of MoldovaGaz director for Vasile Botnari, who is close to Plahotniuc. “Vasile Botnari is Vlad Plahotniuc’s right-hand man. He is in his intimate circle. I would not speculate about sums. I can say that a lot of people want to gain control of this company. It was a decision taken at the highest level. Botnari’s appointment is like a ‘hot apple’ for the PDM. As regards Dodon, he paid for some older scores. It happens that the friends quarrel in TV programs,” he said.
Ion Sturza underlined he will not become involved in the parliamentary elections of 2018 and will not support financially any party, even the PPPDA.