Moldovan wealthy men didn’t make it in the top millionaires from Eastern and Central Europe

Polish magazine "Wprost" published the "Top 100" of the wealthiest men from Central and Eastern Europe. Citizens of the republic of Moldova were not present in the rating. According to the Romanian press, the rating is dominated by Russian business men, with 48 names overall. The first ten names of the top are also Russians, followed by Ukrainians with 15 representatives, Polish with 14, Romanians with 9, Serbians with 4, Czechs and Croats with 3 each, and Bulgarians with Lithuanians with 2 persons each. The wealthiest east-European man for the second year in a row is the Russian business man Roman Abramovici, owner of the Chelsea football club, with a fortune of approximately USD 19.5 billions. His fortune rose by USD 4.5 billions compared to last year. The wealthiest Ukrainian is the magnate Rinat Ahmetov, owner of the Sahtior Donetk football club. The richest Bulgarian, Vasil Bojkov, is also into football and is the owner of the TSK Sofia team, and has riches of approximately a billion USD. Romania has nine names, by two more than last year - Gigi Becali and Dan Voiculescu, while the leader is Ion Tiriac ranked 58th with USD 900 millions. The overall wealth of the competitors is approximately USD 257.5 billion, while 55 of them have goods valued at over a billion USD. The Republic of Moldova doesn’t have any representatives in the top magnates of Europe, although unofficial statistics show that we do not lack millionaires. Experts claim the incomes are hidden because of fiscal, legal or moral considerations – as Moldova is the poorest country of Europe. According to recent information from the Central Control Committee, even the country’s high officials declare property, including apartments, cottages, plots, garages and vehicles at miserable prices. For example, the possessions of President Vladimir Voronin are estimated at approx. USD 23 thousand, of the speaker Marian Lupu at approx. USD 11 thousand, of parliament vice-speaker Iurie Rosca – at USD 45 thousand, of MP Victor Stepaniuc at USD 20 thousand and of the prime-minister Vasile Tarlev at USD 13 thousand.