The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) takes steps to determine the legality of the contract for the supply of electrical energy from Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova that was signed in 2008. The investigation was launched on May 5 this year after Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo annulled the order not to take legal action in this case that was issued by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases in 2017, IPN reports.
According to the PGO, new relevant circumstances appeared and a legal solution is to be ordered in this case. The investigation is conducted “in rem” and no one was charged.
In a news conference at IPN last November, a number of energy experts said the citizens of the Republic of Moldova in 2008 were defrauded of US$14.5 million as a result of a scheme to purchase electrical energy. The scheme involved ex-Presided Igor Dodon, who then served as Minister of Economy, and Parliament Speaker Zinaida Grechanyi, who then held the post of Premier. The experts said criminal proceedings were instituted, but these were dropped without the case being investigated.
Expert Tudor Șoitu said that according to a document obtained from the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NAER), until April 2008 Moldova imported electricity directly from the Ukrainian supplier Ukrinterenergo at the price of 4 cents per kwh. As a result of the negotiations held in Kiev by Igor Dodon, then Minister of Economy, an intermediary appeared in the power importation scheme in May 2008 - Energopartner. Igor Dodon was named head of the group of negotiators by an order signed by Zinaida Grechanyi, who then held the post of Prime Minister. The contract was signed by Alexandru Gusev, who was then director of Energocom – an enterprise subordinate to the Ministry of Economy. The electric power for all the consumers grew more expensive as a result of the implementation of this scheme. In July 2008, the NAER increased the power tariff by 12%.
