Anticorruption Independent Consultative Committee starts working in Moldovan capital

Chisinau, 7 June /MOLDPRES/ - The launch of the Anticorruption Independent Consultative Committee took place today. This is an entity which will investigate the big corruption cases and will publicly inform about them, will analyze hindrances to the efficient fight against the corruption cases and will make recommendations for improving the legislative and institutional framework, the presidential press service has reported.     

„Unfortunately, the state’s institutions which must prevent and combat the corruption move quite slowly, much more slowly than the corrupt groups which steal this country. The good side is that Moldova’s citizens are not alone before this major challenge – combating corruption. The thieves from Moldova have managed to be known internationally. The frauds they committed and continue to commit have got to be known all over the world. Our development partners understand how serious the corruption problem in Moldova is and are ready to help us,’’ President Maia Sandu said at the launch event.   

The Anticorruption Independent Consultative Committee is made up of six members: three from Moldova – Alina Radu, Tamara Razin and Nadejda Hriptievschi, and three international ones:  James Wasserstrom (USA), Laura Stefan (Romania) and Drago Kos (Slovenia). The six experts were selected through consultations between the Moldovan Presidency and international organizations specialized in combating corruption. The Committee itself is the result of the requests by the presidential institution, made to development partners, in order to help in the fight against corruption.    

James Wasserstrom is an American diplomat, who disclosed corruption schemes at international institutions and worked as anticorruption officer at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. Dragos Kos is jurist from Slovenia, head of the OSDE anticorruption working group, anticorruption consultant of specialized agencies from Kosovo and Ukraine. Laura Stefan is anticorruption expert from Romania, former director specialized in anticorruption policies at the Romanian Justice Ministry.  

Alina Radu is a famous name is the investigation media from Moldova. During 17 years, she has been leading the Ziarul de Gardă (The Guard Newspaper) publication from Chisinau, which disclosed hundreds of unlawful acts and she knows quite well the geography of corruption in Moldova. Tamara Razin is specialist in international finances, with a 15-year experience at the International Monetary Fund. Nadejda Hriptievschi is founder and director of the Justice and Human Rights Programme of the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (CRJM) – a well-known jurist who promotes the independence and responsibility of judges, the equality and non-discrimination, as well as implementation of international standards in the human rights sector in Moldova.        

The work of the Anticorruption Independent Consultative Committee, set up today, will be carried out with the financial support of the European Union, Government of the United States, as well as other donors, who are to join this project.  

photo: Presidency