The attacks made by Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo against the development partners and civil society organizations distract public attention from the real problems that should be on the agenda. Moreover, the Prosecutor General’s statements do no credit to the PGO and the upright prosecutors from the system as they generate bewilderment as to the real priorities of the Prosecutor General’s Office: investigation of grand corruptions or creation of fake agendas with conspiracy theories and personal revenges, runs a press statement issued by Soros Foundation Moldova that is quoted by IPN.
“While the investigation of grand corruption hasn’t yet produced the results expected by the citizens, it is disappointing to see the prosecutor general, who is financed with taxpayers’ money, being concerned more about the search for adversaries inside civil society,” says the statement.
“During about 30 years, the activities of Soros Foundation Moldova have been aimed at supporting the development of democracy and the rule of law. In this connection, Soros Foundation Moldova has always supported civil society’s efforts to monitor the authorities and to develop public policies in different fields. A free civil society is essential for developing a democratic society. Therefore, we vehemently condemn the attempts to intimidate civil society as these are attacks on democracy itself.”
In a press conference on October 4, Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo said that he became “the first and main target” in the war against corruption announced by the PAS government. According to the prosecutor, a campaign to discredit him was planned with the direct involvement of criminal groups and politicians, through the agency of a network of NGOs and so-called independent experts. Stoianoglo made reference to a number of events and studies presented by IPRE, saying that the PGO’s activity is criticized in these. Moreover, he said representatives of the Institute supported the former head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office Viorel Morari and these have communicated with him.
