Commission of inquiry for analysis of privatisation, concession of airport to submit report to Moldovan parliament in September

Chisinau, 23 August /MOLDPRES/ – The commission of inquiry for analysis of organisation and conduct of privatisation and concession of public property (2013 – 2019) will come in September with a complete "due dilligence" on the concession of Airport (AIC), accompanied by conclusions and recommendations regarding cancellation or termination of this contract. The announcement was made on Friday, 23 August, by the chairman of commission, Igor Munteanu.

Munteanu asked the competent authorities to take all urgent measures to ensure and preserve the rights and interests of state at the concessioned airport.

"We draw the attention of acting Prosecutor General, Dumitru Robu and Director of the National Anticorruption Centre (CNA), Ruslan Flocea – the two institutions notified by Commission on 12 August, that they have the obligation to expose by ordinances on seizure application on the assets of Avia Invest SRL, related to the concession activities of AIC, stop any transaction that would involve the State Registration Chamber (CIS). These insurance measures, through seizure and prohibitions on goods concessioned in 2013, but also those resulting from illegal actions, are urgently required, representing legitimate and legal actions in order to repair a damage brought to the state by conclusion of a harmful contract from the beginning. The urgent measures mean actions taken for 24 hours, not 264 – as they have elapsed since the moment of notification," said Munteanu.

He added that even if the parliamentary inquiry was not completed, the elements of the analysis of Commission indicate serious violations of laws and procedures regarding privatisations, concessions and Public – Private Partnerships (PPP).

“The major procedural flaws were identified at the signing of the contract and there were lodged criminal complaints with the acting General Prosecutor (PG). Even though there were carried out searches at the Airport and Avia Invest SRL – they were on causes related to departure of Ilan Shor from the country and not because of the possible criminal offense of capturing the airport. The consultants of the Commission of Inquiry are currently preparing the legal bases regarding the legality or illegality of the actions of concessionaire, following a thorough legal analysis of all the reference documents”, specified Munteanu.

Recently, it has emerged info in press that company Avia Invest SRL was sold and taken over by NR Investments Ltd (Rothschild).