Ion Burdiumov, head of Chisinau’s Directorate of Housing and Public Amenities, says he intends to sue three animal rights activists and seek damages for defamation. This comes after a press conference was held earlier today, where Anastasia Cozlovschi, Iana Verber and Lidia Vinogradov accused Burdiumov of hiring “incompetent” and “convenient” people that “condone abuses” at the municipal animal center.

Burdiumov is confident he will win the suit and pledges all the money to an animal shelter or orphanage.

“After Ecaterina Pagu resigned as head of the Directorate’s Animal Protection Division, it was the Division’s staff that organized a contest (to hire a replacement), not me. It’s not me that supervises the Animal Protection Division, but the deputy heads Dubița and Efros. They (the activists) want to malign me just because I didn’t hire Karl Luganov, who they favor, for the job”, stated Burdiumov.

Burdiumov added that an investigation is underway at the Chisinau Police Inspectorate where Karl Luganov is suspected of forgery of documents. “He broke into the accountants’ office, took agreements signed by the Directorate with various contractors, changed some provisions, several pages in fact, without caring that he was a public official. Even if I wanted to appoint Karl Luganov for the job, it’s not in my powers. There’s a competition procedure for that”, said Burdiumov.

As for the allegations that he was making illegal money from the Animal Protection Division, Burdiumov asked for proof. “I can’t even know how making money from it is possible. Maybe they will explain it to me in the courtroom: how I am doing it and where”.