Press Review: The speed of the Republic of Moldova's European integration will depend on the next composition of the Parliament
The pro-European power in Chisinau must come up with concrete measures to secure the citizens' vote and maintain the European vector, headlines the media from Chisinau. Also, the publications come with details about the 12-year prison sentence of the deputy, Alexandr Nesterovschi, announced as wanted. These and other topics, we learn from the press review.
The speed of Moldova's European integration will depend on the next composition of the Parliament, says the EU ambassador in Chisinau. In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Jānis Mažeiks pointed out that the European Union will be involved in the process of our country's integration and accession to the community bloc "as much as Moldovan politicians." That is, if in the future Parliament "there will be politicians who will not be prepared to engage with the European Union, this will also mean that the EU's commitment will be limited." Therefore, the future of the Republic of Moldova is in the citizens' hands, said Jānis Mažeiks.
On the other hand, journalist Vitalie Călugăreanu says that the pro-European government in Chisinau is doing too little to secure the citizens' vote in the parliamentary elections in the fall, on which the country's accession to the EU will depend. In an analysis for DW.com, he says that the authorities have forgotten about the promise to fight political and electoral corruption. Consequently, in recent months, Moscow has been trying to coagulate three enslaved political camps: one on the radical left (pro-Russian), another on the center, and a third force composed of politicians who openly march under the EU flags or even declare themselves unionists. These are at least 14 Moldovan political leaders that Russia is preparing for the electoral campaign in Moldova.
In turn, Romanian political commentator Cristian Hrițuc says that PAS must open bridges with small pro-European parties, in order not to admit the fall of the Republic of Moldova under Russian influence after the parliamentary elections. In an analysis published on deschide.md, he says that given the complicated geopolitical context, with Russia advancing in Ukraine, with economic problems in the country and with a party without the capacity to make alliances, the pro-Russians will gain power. Thus, he believes that it is necessary to involve President Maia Sandu in the parliamentary campaign. Likewise, Hrițuc sees it as appropriate to create a right-wing bloc where all people who can bring added value can join.
Deputy Alexandr Nesterovschi, sentenced to 12 years in prison, did not legally leave the territory of the Republic of Moldova, says the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for National Security and Public Order, Lilian Carp. He told Jurnal TV.md that the deputy is either on the territory of the Embassy of the Russian Federation or in Transnistrian region. However, he does not rule out illegal departure from the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
Ziarul de Garda writes that deputy Alexandr Nesterovschi, affiliated with Ilan Shor, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in the case in which he is accused of passive corruption, preparation and acceptance of financing of a political party from an organized criminal group. The deputy was not present at the court hearing, and the court ordered his announcement on the wanted list. On the day he learned of his sentence, the Russian media wrote that Nesterovschi received citizenship of the Russian Federation, and the deputy thanked the “Russian leadership for its support.”
The Vetting Commission cannot find any crimes committed by the judges who passed the test, headlines Ziarul de Garda. The commission's statement comes after information appeared in the public space that Angela Braga, the judge of the Central Court of Appeal, who previously passed the Vetting, is being investigated, along with three other magistrates, for acts of corruption. The Commission's representatives say that although they requested data on whether the tested persons have the status of suspect, accused, defendant, convicted or witness, the responsible institutions did not provide information.
RISE Moldova identified the luxury villa of Ilan Shor's family in Russia. The imposing mansion with an indoor pool is located in an elite area near Moscow and was purchased during the "Robbery of the Century" scandal in Chisinau. In this exclusive area, where the Shor family owns the villa, real estate prices can reach 11.5 million dollars. Although his wife, Russian singer Jasmin, frequently posts pictures of the luxury property, Ilan Shor did not include it in his statements on property, neither as mayor nor as a deputy. Integrity inspectors claim that the former leader of the Shor Party did not declare several properties.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a protest note after the bomb threat at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Chisinau. Agora.md writes, referring to the Russian media, that the reason given is "blocking the diplomatic mission", violating the Vienna Convention. It is happening against the backdrop of an announcement regarding a bomb threat at the embassy, which turned out to be fake.
Veaceslav Platon's extradition request will be examined in mid-April, IPN writes. Until then, Platon, detained last week in the UK, remains in the custody of the British authorities. The prosecutor's office announced that he would come up with details. In 2017, Veaceslav Platon was sentenced to 18 years in prison in the bank fraud case. In 2020, he was released from detention following an initiative by the then Prosecutor General, Alexandr Stoianoglo.
As many as 65 thousand slaughtered pigs from the farm in Roșcani, where an outbreak of swine fever was confirmed, will be buried on the outskirts of the town, near the villages of Calfa and Calfa Nouă, Moldova 1 TV reports. The decision sparked discontent among locals, who protested and demanded that another place be found to bury the animals, fearing air pollution, groundwater contamination, and soil damage. Local authorities claim that there are no alternatives, and ANSA assures that the burial process will comply with all sanitary standards.
