Moldovan parliament's inquiry commission unveils report on Open Dialogue foundation

Chisinau, 16 November /MOLDPRES/ - The parliament’s inquiry commission has found out that the Open Dialogue foundation and its founder Ludmila Kozlowska would have financed more parties from Moldova and would have harmed the country’s image internationally. The data is contained in a report presented at a parliament meeting today.  

The report was presented by the head of the commission, Igor Vremea, and discussed in parliament for almost four hours. According to the document, “the foundation would have been financed by military institutions from Russia, with money coming from offshore zones, Russian laundromat, schemes of money laundering and from the bank fraud which took place in Moldova.”    

„Investigations showed that the foundations had undertaken actions to harm the image of the countries which run counter the interests of Russia, among which Ukraine too. Moldova got into the focus of the foundation in 2016, after the detention of businessman Veaceslav Platon, whose interests were promoted. Also, tendentious information on the situation in Moldova was presented in the European Parliament, the ceasing of the macro-financial assistance and toughening of sanctions against Moldova was backed and promoted. At the same time, the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) and Dignity and Truth Political Party (PPDA) benefited from illegal financing on behalf of the foundation, - sums which were not declared officially. It is about the participation in conferences and buying plane tickets for trips abroad. Also, decision-makers ascertained the denigration of Moldova’s authorities and involvement in domestic issues. The commission’s members established the existence of also other international foundations which finance parties from Moldova,” Igor Vremea said.        

After the report had been presented, the commission’s head noted that “it is necessary to make an analysis of the national legal framework in terms of the financing of political parties and removing of gaps existing at present.”   

At the discussions, the MPs of the Moldovan Democratic Party (PDM) demanded that the “people involved in the schemes of Open Dialogue be called to account for high treason.” At the same time, the lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) said that “this report is aimed at denigrating two political leaders before of parliamentary polls.” At the same time, the MPs of the Liberal Party (PL) said that “it is necessary to establish all offshore firms through which the national parties are financed.”    

Following the presentation of data, PAS informed, in a press release, that “the formation has no connection with Ludmila Kozlowska and the open Dialogue foundation and has never been financed by this foundation.” “The only charge brought is that Maia Sandu participated in a conference, at an invitation by more members of the European Parliament, with the financing of the ticket and the accommodation by this foundation, with which the European Parliament cooperated,” the communiqué reads.   

After the unveiling of the report, the parliament made more recommendations and adopted a draft decision on the assessment and discussion of the findings of the parliamentary inquiry commission.