The Ministry of Justice has announced a new competition to select lawyers who will defend the interests of the state in international courts in the Airport case
Komaksavia Airport Invest, which owns 95% of Avia Invest, has challenged the ruling of the Arbitration Court of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce in Sweden that it must pay the costs of the proceedings. In the meantime, the Ministry of Justice has announced a new competition for the selection of an associate law firm, including foreign lawyers, to represent the interests of the Republic of Moldova in this case.
The Stockholm Arbitral Tribunal's ruling that Komaksavia Airport Invest LTD must pay the Moldovan Government over €200,000 and arbitration fees of over €400,000 has been challenged by the company.
In May 2020, Komaksavia Airport Invest, registered in Cyprus, filed a claim with the Stockholm Tribunal concerning the alleged violation of the Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Moldova and Cyprus aimed at the promotion and mutual protection of investments.
The Cypriot company then asked for the continuation of the concession contract for "Chisinau International Airport" and related land, signed in 2013. And for the alleged expropriation of the investment Komaksavia asked the Republic of Moldova to pay the sum of more than 880,000 euros.
In August 2022, the Arbitral Tribunal in Stockholm found lack of jurisdiction and ordered the recovery from Komaksavia, for the benefit of the Republic of Moldova, of the sum of over €216,000, constituting procedural costs and arbitration fees of over €400,000. In November 2022, Komaksavia challenged this decision of the Arbitral Tribunal at the Court of Appeal in Sweden, requesting the annulment of the award. On 18 April this year, the Swedish Court of Appeal notified the Ministry of Justice of the appeal lodged by Komaksavia against our country, granting the Republic of Moldova a period of 21 days, i.e. until 9 May 2023, to reply to this appeal.
In this context, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova has announced a new competition for the selection of an associated office of lawyers, including foreign lawyers, to represent the interests of the state in international arbitration institutions in the action filed by Komaksavia against the Republic of Moldova. The deadline for receipt and registration of documents is 5 May 2023.
