“I’m not sure it goes to corruption. I confirm my openness to provide prosecutors with all the necessary information,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi, commenting on the searches conducted by SIS and PCCOCS officers at the Consular Division of the institution he leads. The official noted that the person concerned was summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office, but wasn’t arrested, IPN reports.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs admitted that an employee of the institution he manages is in the focus of law enforcement officers after prosecutors and SIS officers searched the Consular Division of the MFA. According to prosecutors, the searches didn’t result in arrest and the person wasn’t classed as a suspect. Mihai Popșoi avoided providing information on this case, but said that, most likely, it is not about corruption.
“A number of procedural actions were taken in the Consular Division. I cannot give more information. I can only confirm the openness of the institution I lead to provide all the necessary information to prosecutors in handling this case. The person concerned was summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office, but no restrictions, arrest or limitation of movement were imposed on him. In this case, I’m not sure that it goes to corruption. We are waiting for the official communication of the Prosecutor’s Office, because it is an ongoing process and we cannot give information. The MFA team is a strong, professional team that has a very good institutional memory. We have professional diplomats both at the head office and in missions, who deliver results to the citizens every day. It goes to the promotion of European integration in the member countries, economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy. It’s a very good team,” Mihai Popșoi stated in the talk show “Good Evening” on the public television station.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that, at present, Moldova has the best diplomatic relations with Romania. Romania remains Moldova’s most important advocate in Brussels. Romania is also the staunchest supporter of Moldova’s economic development, which invests in education and infrastructure projects.
“The relations with both neighbors, but especially with Romania, are the best in the history of the Republic of Moldova’s Independence. Not long ago, we had a period of total isolation. We had a president who during four years of tenure didn’t go either to Romania or to Ukraine. That period of sad fame has passed. We hope never to return to such a shameful past. Now the Republic of Moldova enjoys enormous international openness and this is also due to Romania, which is our main advocate. Romania’s support is well known throughout the country, including thanks to projects within the European Village. We also have the projects to repair kindergartens, school buses. Romania’s support is felt by every citizen of the country,” said Mihai Popșoi.
In the same connection, the minister noted that Russia’s actions in Moldova aim to destabilize the situation by corrupting voters and promoting false narratives.
