The Council for the Promotion of Investment Projects of National Importance, managed by the Prime Minister, discovered suspicious transfers to the bank accounts of the head of the Gagauz television station GRT Vasili Dermenji. 

At a meeting held on September 4, Dermenji presented data on his accounts and income, as well as information about the accounts of the chief accountant of the television station. He was also asked for data on the members of the supervisory board of the Gagauz TV channel, but Dermenji has not yet provided them.

The Council, which includes most of the members of the Cabinet, also discovered that the head of GRT received about 124,000 lei through the system of transfers from individuals. It requested Dermenji to provide information about these sources and the purpose of the received money, according to a document published on the government’s website after the meeting.

At the same meeting, the Council demanded to close Canal 5 television station, which was part of the media trust of former democratic leader Vladimir Plahotniuc, as well as the radio station Maestro FM. It argued that a “camouflaged” takeover of them by entities of the fugitive pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor was being prepared.

In August, the Council suspended the operations of three Moldovan companies that brokered the sale of aircraft parts in Russia despite international sanctions.