An independent, consultative Anticorruption Committee consisting of jurists, economists and investigative journalists will investigate cases of grand corruption in the Republic of Moldova and will present information about these to the population. The activity of the group will be supported by the EU, the U.S. and other potential donors, President Maia Sandu stated in a news conference, being quoted by IPN.
According to Maia Sandu, the group was created by presidential decree, but the interaction between the committee and the President didn’t go further. The committee will decide by itself what subjects to investigate. It consists of James Wasserstrom, Drag Kos, Laura Ștefan, Alina Radu, Tamara Razin and Nadejda Hriptievschi.
“Regrettably, the state institutions that must prevent and fight corruption move slowly, much slower than the corrupt groups that rob this country. But the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are not alone in front of this major challenge in the fight against corruption,” stated Maia Sandu, noting the development partners realize the gravity of the problem of corruption in Moldova and are ready to help.
The committee’s chairman James Wasserstrom has fought corruption for 20 years. He started his activity in Kosovo, as part of the UN Mission where he dealt with cases of corruption in the field of utilities. Later, he served for the U.S. Government as a senior adviser at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan and then worked in Ukraine as part of operations similar to those planed by the Anticorruption Committee of Moldova.
The committee will analyze the system, institutions and people based on open sources and will determine why they are not efficient. It will produce reports based on evidence and will formulate recommendations for the authorities. Its budget hasn’t been yet approved.
The committee’s deputy chair Alina Radu, director of Ziaru de Gardă paper, said she agreed to work on the committee as she has followed cases of corruption in Moldova for many years and took part in national and international projects. She expressed her confidence that this new entity will efficiently fight corruption in Moldova.
Jurist Nadia Hriptievschi took part in national and international projects concerning legal issues and human rights.
Laura Ștefan served with the Ministry of Jjustice of Romania and now works for a Romanian NGO.
Tamara Razin recently returned from abroad after working as an economist at the IMF for 14 years. Before this, she worked at the National Bank of Moldova for 15 years.
Drago Kos is from Slovenia. He headed operations in the Slovenian National Police Force for nine years and held the post of GRECO president.
The Anticorruption Committee starts work on June 8.
