A member of the previous Moldovan Parliament, Grigore Petrenco [an ex-Deputy Chairperson of the Unified European Left group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe], is convinced that Moldovan oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc will sooner or later repeat the unenviable fate of the previous President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovitch.

 

Petrenco stated at a news conference at Infotag today that the Thursday’s decision by the Chisinau Appeals Court to extend detention to public activist Pavel Grigorciuc and the yesterdays’ return into custody, from a home arrest, of Communist Party member Mikhail Amerberg, are betraying the Moldovan rulers’ fear.

 

Grigore Petrenco stressed that judges and prosecutors in Moldova are but instruments in the hands of Plahotniuc who reins the whole republic “by means of his organized criminal group also known locally under the name of the Democratic Party of Moldova”.

 

“Who is the Chairman of the Chisinau Appeals Court? It is Ion Plesca, one of the key participants in the memorable “Huntgate” scandal – the tragic royal hunt organized by big bosses in the Padurea Domneasca national park two years ago. Plesca has long and securely been on Plahotniuc’s and his surrounding’s hook. The incredible concentration of the electronic mass media in his hands [Plahotniuc is the owner of 5 biggest television channels in Moldova] permits Plahotniuc to brainwash the population and drown citizens in empty talks. Having subjugated Moldovan state structures, including the National Bank, he keeps robbing the nation, while the people are silent, so far”, said the ex-parliamentarian

 

Grigore Petrenco believes that the scandalous withdrawal of US$1 billion away from Moldova is a bright example of how Plahotniuc and his nearest surrounding “are stealing from the pocket of the Moldovan state and people”.

 

“When prosecutors were demanding in the Chisinau Appeals Court on February 19 to further keep Pavel Grigorciuc and Mikhail Amerberg behind bars, they were maintaining that the two activities were representing a threat to the country’s security. But I am convinced that the real and the greatest danger to the country is Vlad Plahotniuc. He has already stolen a monstrously tremendous sum of money from the poorest country in Europe. But he will never stop, and will be stealing on”, said Grigore Petrenco.

 

He is sure that the ruling regime is currently toughening measures against opposition activists for one more reason – to test the Moldovan society to see how far the regime can go safely in its so-far unbridled permissiveness.

 

“But their blunder is that they think the Moldovan people are infinitely patient, so it is possible to infinitely tighten the nuts and bolts of repressions. But exactly this will bring Plahotniuc and his organized criminal group to a political collapse. I am calling upon citizens not to be silent and to come out at least for social protesting. Or, for instance, you are driving your car past the Democratic Party office or Plahotniuc’s residence – press your klaxon, make a signal to express your indignation about corruption and the lawlessness sweeping the country”, called the ex-parliamentarian.