Politics

OP MAYORS AND COUNCILORS ASK FOREIGN DIPLOMATS’ HELP TO PROTECT THEM FROM AUTHORITIES’ PRESSURE

27 february, 2017

Tens of mayors and municipal council deputies, elected from Our Party have addressed to foreign diplomatic representations accredited in Moldova with a request to help protect them from “the unprecedented pressure being put on us by the Moldovan authorities”. The joint request was presented officially at the roundtable conference the OP mayors and councilors organized on Monday specially to discuss the question.

Deputy Mayor of Balti city Igor Seremet stated that the central Chisinau authorities hinder the normal work of the municipal administration. Specially for this, the central authorities have appointed their placeman in the city – former Deputy Mayor Octavian Mahu, who lost the 2015 local elections to incumbent Mayor, Our Party Chairman Renato Usatii.

“So, this man, who is proud of bearing a loud post of the Representative of the State Chancellery Office in the city, gives direct orders to the Balti Police Chief concerning who of Our Party municipal councilors must be brought to criminal responsibility and stand court. Moreover, Mahu issues written orders canceling the legal force of all acts issued by the city administration. We try to combat criminal schemes in the city, but Mahu challenges all our actions and documents in the court. In whose interest is all this? Definitely not in the citizens’ interests”, stated Igor Seremet.

He reminded that at the latest local elections, Our Party leader Renato Usatii polled nearly 70% in the first round, while Octavian Mahu – 3%.

The Deputy Mayor told the foreign diplomats that during the recent visit to Balti paid by US Ambassador James D. Pettit, he described the situation in the city and the ‘warfare’ with Mahu to the American diplomat.

“Ambassador Pettit called the developments as a direct conflict of interests and “the tricks by the central authorities” as ones having no relation to a democratic state”, said the Balti Deputy Mayor.

Drochia Mayor Nina Cereteu said that Our Party is remaining the country’s only political force that continue to severely criticize the authorities and the ruling Democratic Party which has subjugated all state structures in Moldova.

“It is highly probable that after this conference, the force of pressure on Our Party will further strengthen. In the Drochia Raion, various checks and inspections of OP mayors follow one after another. In the Drochia town, for instance, we are ready to allocate a separate office in the town hall for the inspectors to spare them of constant trips”, said Mayor Cereteu.

Mayor of Vulcanesti (in southern Moldova) Victor Petrioglo stated that the law enforcement, controlled by the central authorities, abuse office by threatening the local authorities with using Article 328 of the Criminal Code, “Excess of Power”, against them.

“The Article badly needs correction. For example, a person embezzled 1.5 billion lei, was sued and jailed for 9 years. But they start legal proceedings against me as well, or threaten me for my attempts to put an end to the monopoly of a network of pharmacies. Our citizens have been robbed for 20 years on end by forcing them to buy medicines in the network at overrated prices. But I am invited to the territorial office of the National Anti-Corruption Center, where they hint that by my efforts to crack down the monopoly, I am allegedly exceeding my mayoral plenary powers. They initiate legal proceedings against disobedient people on invented pretexts. They don't let people work honestly for the good of citizens. And all this is only because we represent the opposition Our Party”, stated Mayor Petrioglo.

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