Moldovan citizens Vitalii Besleaga and Serghei Bevziuc, co-founders of the company “Varnita Unicum”, has been illegally held by the Transnistrian administration since November 15, 2013. “Promo-LEX” Association sounded the alarm as the men are held in inhuman conditions and need medical assistance immediately.
In a news conference at IPN, the representative of “Promo-LEX” Pavel Postica said the two entrepreneurs were arrested owing to a conflict between Besleaga and the so-called minster of the interior of Transnistria. Vitalii Besleaga was local adviser in Varnita village of Bender district when the Transition administration decided to set up customs posts near this settlement, and the people protested. Vitalii Besleaga was present at the scene when they tried to build up the posts and confronted the so-called minister. After this case, pressure started to be exerted on the company that was founded by Vitalii Besleaga.
Vitalii Besleaga’s brother Alexandru said that several years after the foundation of “Varnita Unicum”, representatives of the Transnistrian administration requested registering the company in Tiraspol so as to be able to work without problems in the Security Zone. They accepted to register it and, until the two were arrested, the company worked normally, paying taxes both to Chisinau and to Tiraspol.
Alexandru Besleaga said that after his brother had problems with a representative of the Transnistrian administration, a sum of US$150,000 was extorted from them. On November 13, 2013, Vitalii Besleaga gave the extorters US$50,000 and was to take a part of the sum to the agreed place. The process of transmitting the money was filmed and, when Besleaga refused to give the rest of the money, his company was robbed of money and of a truck with mineral water “Varnita Unicum”. In two days, Vitalii Besleaga and his business partner Serghei Bevziuc were arrested, being accused of offering bribe. The latter is a collateral victim of the conflict between Besleaga and the Transnistrian administration.
Vitalii Besleaga’s lawyer Vladimir Maimust said it is absolutely clear that the two were arrested for political reasons as one of them opposed the separatist regime, while the other one was used as a pretext. Besleaga must be under the supervision of an endocrinologist as he suffers from diabetes, while Bevziuc needs to be operated. The two are held in inhuman conditions. Recently the Transnistrian administration decided to extend the arrest warrant against them for another two months.
According to the persons who held the news conference, the Moldovan authorities started a criminal case only over the break-in and robbery at the company.
