The Party of Progressive Society (PSP) on May 21 presented a list of 22 persons who are suspected of collectively stealing the US$1billion. In a news conference at IPN, the party’s chairman Marin Livadaru said there are three state institutions in Moldova that created a ‘Bermuda Triangle’ in order to hide the theft of the US$1billion. Parliament is at the top of the triangle, while the lower positions are taken by the Government and the National Bank, together with Banca de Economii, in which the state has owned one third of the shares during the last ten years.
Marin Livadaru said the list of those who are suspected of stealing the US$1billion includes politicians Vlad Filat, Vladimir Voronin and Vladimir Plahotniuc as well as Valeriu Strelet, Dumitru Diacov and Igor Dodon. The last one was minister of economy and is directly responsible for the work of Banca de Economii because this bank’s Administration Board always included a representative of the Ministry of Economy. Among the suspects is also former Speaker Marian Lupu, who was obliged to ask for a report from the National Bank beforehand.
The list also includes Oleg Reidman, Zinaida Grecheanyi, Valeriu Lazar, Andrian Candu, Viorel Barca, Dmitrii Gashkevich, Victor Bodiu, Dorin Dragutanu and Emma Tabarta as well as Mihai Ghimpu, who fielded Dorin Dragutanu for the post of National Bank governor. “We today do not make accusations because we do not have the legal right to do this and do not have evidence because it is hidden by the law enforcement bodies that must investigate this case. But today we present the persons whom we suspect together with the whole society,” stated Marin Livadaru.
As to ex-Premier Iurie Leanca, who is among the suspects, Marin Livadaru said this is a key figure in this scheme because he hid the historical debts from society, based on which a payment order maturing in over ten years was issued. “Thus, not only we, but also our children will have to pay for this billion that disappeared from our financial system,” he stated.
The head of the Party of Progressive Society said current Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici is among the suspects because he had the chance to shed light based on the Kroll report, but shrinks from assuming responsibility and shows no initiative. Businessman Ilan Shor is among the main culprits, but he is not held accountable because he has governmental and parliamentary protection. The head of the National Anticorruption Center and the prosecutor general have the chance to become national heroes by obeying the law and bringing those to blame to justice.
Economic expert Ruslan Surugiu said the theft at Banca de Economii started in 2005 and Zinaida Grecheanyi and Igor Dodon are equally to blame for the illegalities because they held administrative state posts at that time. President Nicolae Timofti also bears a part of the blame as he can exercise control through the Security Council and should have taken steps to defend the people because the stolen money belongs to the people.
The representatives of the Party of Progressive Society announced that they will not take part in the June 14 local elections so as not to make common cause with those who are in power. They called on the people not to vote for the parties responsible for the stealing of money from the banking system and demanded holding early legislative elections and that those to blame for the created situation should resign.
