New episode in battle for Chisinau's Health Direction

The head of the Health Direction from Chisinau, Ion Arteni, appointed through a CMC decision, has criticized, at a news conference on Feb. 17, the way in which he was ousted from office by Mihai Moldovanu, promoted in the same position through an ordinance of the general mayor, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Arteni, on February 16, Mihai Moldovanu entered his office accompanied by 4 men and forced him to leave the room. Moreover, Arteni says the police guarding the entrance into the direction's quarters was not at his post at that moment, although Arteni says he called him in defense. Ion Arteni was appointed to head the direction last fall through a decision of the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC), while mayor Dorin Chirtoaca had already signed an employment contract with Mihai Moldovanu. On December 2, 2008, Ion Arteni changed the cylinder lock of the door of Mihai Moldovanu's office, being supported by councilors Oleg Oniscenco and Serghei Cires, accompanied by at least ten policemen. Two police from the State Guard Service were employed by Arteni to guard the quarters. “I consider the undertook actions as an act of arbitrary dealing liable to the penal law. Mihai Moldovanu's and his group's actions have a profound political character and can be qualified as power abuse and excess of liberalism,” said Ion Arteni in the conference of February 17. He did not notify the police as to the incident, but said he would so on Tuesday. On January 27, 2009, the Chisinau Appellate Court decided that the head of the Health Direction should be Ion Arteni, but the City Hall can sue the decision at the Supreme Court of Justice. Ion Arteni came to the news conference accompanied by municipal councilor Serghei Cires, a former member of the Humanist Party. Orthodox priest Serghei Cires said in December 2008, the Humanist Party had decided to dissolve, as all its members are incorporated into the Centrist Union (UCM). But father Cires has specified he is not a member of the UCM. The two refused to see any link between the sacking of Eduard Musuc from the position of CMC chair and the lack of cooperation of the policeman guarding the Health Direction during the assault of Moldovanu's team. Monday, Eduard Musuc accused “the councilors supporting Mr. Tarlev (UCM)” of having supported his dismissal. Mihai Moldovanu could not be found for comments as he was attending the CMC sitting when this stories was aired.