“Judge Nicolae Harmaliuc, of the Economic Court of Appeals, ruled in favor of a dubious foundation that intends to appropriate the building located at 24 Pushkin St, where four creation unions are based,” Minister of Culture Boris Focsa told a news conference on June 11, Info-Prim Neo reports. The foundation Moldova's Future claims the building after the impresario agency founded by the Ministry of Culture in 2006 allowed it to use this building and the one situated at 18 Alexandru cel Bun St for a period of 29 years, under a contract signed by the parties in September 2009. The Ministry of Culture, which owns that buildings, did not approve it. The transaction took place two days before the Ministry of Culture was taken over by the current minister. The Cadaster Office and the State Registration Chamber registered the transaction even if the owner did not give its consent, Focsa said. He also said that the foundation took possession of the building located on Pushkin St even if the sides are still in litigation. The four creation unions are intimidated, while the visitors are stopped by the guard set up by the foundation's administration. Moreover, the foundation closed the toilets and turned off the water supply so that the creation unions cannot use them. The new administration of the Ministry of Culture asked the Economic Court of Appeal to terminate the given contract. Judge Nicolae Harmaliuc did not take into account the gross violations committed by the signatories of the contract and decided in favor of the foundation. The four creation union are to vacate their offices. Boris Focsa said the Ministry will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice and even to the ECHR or will stage a protest if the decision is not overturned. Sandu Grecu, the chairman of the Theater Union of Moldova, said the theft of national patrimony was to be stopped by the court, but a judge like Harmaliuc showed that the legal system is rotten and the society should get involved and 'clean' it. He said that after Acting President Mihai Ghimpu was informed about this case, he instructed the Prosecutor General Valeriu Zubco to personally investigate it. Grecu said that if nothing is done, the creation unions will block the building. The attempts of Info-Prim Neo's reporter to discuss with the administration of the foundation Moldova's Future failed. The foundation's office located on the second floor of the aforementioned building is closed.