The majority shareholder SAP Gazpom was informed about the organization of the audit of the debts owed by Moldovagaz. However, this, contrary to the agreements, unilaterally convened a meeting of the Supervisory Board of Moldovagaz for approving the audit-related documentation, Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, said after Gazprom accused the Moldovan authorities of adopting a unilateral approach and noted that the audit results could be rejected, IPN reports.
“The Moldovan side means the minority shareholder Republic of Moldova. This is how we discussed in St. Petersburg and this is how it is noted in point 5 of the negotiation protocol that was signed by the sides on 29.10.2021, concerning the organization of an independent audit of the debts owed by SA Moldovagaz to SAP Gazpom and to SRL Factoring-Finance. Respectively, based on Law 1134/1997 on joint stock companies, the Government of the Republic of Moldova approved the Government decision of December 29, 2021 concerning the conducting of an independent audit of debts. The Public Property Agency was entrusted with the task of performing the necessary procedures for organizing the process,” stated Andrei Spînu. According to him, the majority shareholder was informed about this.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that he will continue the discussions with Gazpom so as to resolve any misunderstanding.
The administration of Gazprom accused the Moldovan authorities of unilateral approach to the organization of the audit of Moldovagaz’s debt, saying this runs counter to the agreements signed in October 2021. The Russian gas giant noted that such an approach cannot guarantee an objective and transparent audit, while the Supervisory Board of Moldovagaz could reject its results.
Representatives of the government earlier stated that the documents signed in October 2021 stipulate the Moldovan side’s obligation to initiate an external audit of the debts owed by SA Moldovagaz to Gazprom. These explained an external audit is necessary as there are reasonable suspicions of large-scale acts of corruption committed during many years at Moldovagaz, which is the daughter company of Gazprom.
