The Party ”League of Towns and Communes” (LOC) decided to withdraw its support for activist Mihail Bagas, whom it fielded for mayor of the municipality of Chisinau. Bagas was arrested and is investigated in the case concerning illegal financing of political parties, IPN reports.
“We offered Mister Bagas a political platform for running and any allegedly illegal action committed post-factum is dissociated from the party a priori. The League of Towns and Communes and its representatives didn’t receive any money from Mister Bagas in donation, on a bank account or unofficially,” LOC co-chairman Alexandru Bujoreanu told a news conference.
In the meeting of the party’s National Council, it was decided to withdraw the political support given to Bagas for the mayoralty of Chisinau. The LOC is to make the necessary approaches to the Chisinau District Electoral Council for this to be withdrawn.
“The League of Towns and Communes will keep the list of candidates for Chisinau municipal councilor
and of candidates in the suburban settlements and will examine individually each fielded candidate so as not to allow disguised personages or candidates of Shor. The League of Towns and Communes dissociates itself from all the public accusations made by different political players and describes them as calumnious and made with the aim of damaging the party’s image and of obtaining electoral dividends,” stated Alexandru Bujoreanu.
Mihail Bagas was arrested on September 21 the same day MPs Irina Lozovan and Alexandr Nesterovschi were arrested on suspicion of accepting illegal financing from an organized criminal group led by Ilan Shor.
Bagas, who was placed in remand detention for 30 days, is suspected of preparation of and complicity in illegal financing of political parties, initiative groups and election contenders in large proportions and of complicity in and instigation of money laundering committed by an organized criminal group in very large proportions.