The noncommercial organization of the Russian State Duma deputy Aleksey Zhuravlyov during several years transported contraband goods in very large amounts to the Transnistrian region without declaring these at the customs posts of Moldova, IPN reports, with reference to a journalistic investigation of the Association of Investigative Reporters RISE Moldova.

“The autonomous noncommercial organization “Eurasian Integration” since 2013 has been one of the main suppliers of humanitarian assistance under the charity program of the Russian Government. On behalf of Russia, the activity of this organization is guarded personally by the Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin, the Special Representative of the Russian Federation for Transnistria. But the Moldovan authorities know nothing about the financing of this Russian governmental program and the goods transported by this organization to the Transnistrian region,” write the authors of the investigation entitled “Contraband humanitarian aid for Transnistria”.

As the reporters established, in 2013-2014 the charity organization of Zhuravlyov sent at least eight ambulances, four trolleybuses and a minibus for the administration of the unrecognized republic from Russia to the Transnistrian region, bypassing Moldova’s customs posts.

Comparing the market prices of similar ambulances bought by the NGO in Russia, the reporters reached the conclusion that over US$340,000 could have been saved on the purchase of the eight ambulances for Transnistrians.

“At the same time, the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova assured us that no cases of transportation of ambulances, trolleybuses or other units of transport by the organization “Eurasian Integration” have been registered in the database,” said RISE Moldova.

“The goods imported into the Transnistrian region outside the control of Moldovan customs inspects are contraband given that in accordance with the international norms, Transnistria is considered a part of the Republic of Moldova,” concluded the reporters, making reference to the official response of the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova.

For his part, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minimizer for Reintegration Gheorghe Balan said the organization “Eurasian Integration” cannot be found in the Register of Noncommercial Organizations.

“In accordance with the international requirements, any activity or interaction of a foreign state with the real bodies of Transnistria should be first coordinated with the Moldovan constitutional authorities,” explained Gheorghe Balan.