Moldova: Two MPs lose immunity in corruption probe
The Moldovan Parliament voted on Thursday to lift the immunity of two lawmakers, Irina Lozovan and Alexandr Nesterovschi, who are under investigation for corruption.
Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu announced the charges at a plenary session. Lozovan is accused of knowingly accepting political funding from the criminal group led by Ilan Shor, and of money laundering. Nesterovschi is accused of passive corruption, of accepting financial support from the Shor criminal group, and of organising an illegal financing scheme for the Renaștere party.
Lozovan was absent from the plenary session, but Nesterovschi participated in the debates.
"For leaving the faction, the amount was not established," Munteanu said. "Subsequently, we found a monthly remuneration for her to exercise her duties in favour of the political party "Șor" (declared unconstitutional) and directly, of Ilan Șor. [...] Contrary to her position, she accepted and received from persons acting in the interest of Ilan Șor money that was not due to her, as well as five thousand dollars per month, the equivalent of 93,455 lei."
Nesterovschi, a former member of the Socialist Party, denied the charges.
"I have been in the Socialist Party for more than 11 or 12 years, I don't remember," he said. "I participated in the strengthening of this party. I was there in the period of its apogee and unfortunately, I also caught its degradation. I have never said anything bad about the socialists, I have not written any complaints and I do not intend to, even in these moments, knowing that they wrote denunciations in my name."
President of the Parliament Igor Grosu asked Nesterovschi to clarify the amount of money he allegedly received from the Shor group.
"Mr. Deputy, can I ask you one thing," Grosu said. "Here is not a rally. If you can, with substance: 5,000, more thousands?"
Nesterovschi responded with a biblical quote.
"Today, on this holy day of celebration, I answer you as Jesus said to Judas: Do what you have to do quickly!"
Lilian Carp, a member of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), criticized Nesterovschi's response.
"If the comrade thief has ended in biblical style," Carp said. "It is exactly as when John the Baptist was asked: Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another? Exactly are you the thief who took the money and left the Socialists or is it another?"
In addition to the vote on immunity, the Service for the Security of the Republic of Moldova (SIS) and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office conducted over 20 searches on Thursday in several locations in the capital, Balti, Sangerei, and Edinet. They also searched nine vehicles. Authorities seized mobile phones, computers, drafts, and other documents that are relevant to the investigation. The value of the sums confiscated in national currency and foreign currency is 814,600 lei.
Natalia Parasca, the interim president of the Renaștere party, said that she was summoned by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, and that she believes the reason is her recent trip to Moscow. She called the searches of party members illegal.
"For tomorrow, I have been summoned at 10 am to testify at the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office," Parasca said. "I believe that the most important reason for the searches would be my recent trip to Moscow and my meeting with Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry."
Zakharova is known for her aggressive rhetoric against Moldova. On Wednesday, September 19, Parasca posted a photo with Zakharova on her Facebook page. The Renaștere party president returned from Moscow on Thursday morning at 5 am on September 21.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
