Lazar family companies offered several paid services to state institutions, including the Ministry of Economy, CAN, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. Recently, the company “Tatra-Bis” Ltd, whose founder is also Tatiana Lazar, Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Lazar’s wife, was named the winner of a tender, providing the necessary logistics to an event organized by the Ministry of Economy and Energy Efficiency Agency, with the financial support of the European Union Mission for assistance at the border between Moldova and Ukraine.

The travel and event organization Agency “Tatra-Bis” Ltd was founded in 2003 by slovak Emilian Dzugas – 50% by Tatiana Lazarus, wife of the Minister of Economy, who owns 50% participation rate. In 2010, this company offered event organizing services to CAN, which was conducting a project in partnership with the Border Guard Service of Ukraine, with the financial support of the European Union Assistance Mission border between Moldova and Ukraine.

Since the beginning of 2013, “Tatra-Bis” Ltd has won several tenders announced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a subsidiary body of the United Nations. In April 2013, the company of Lazar family won a project worth 200 thousand lei for a training organization, and on December 2^nd – 6th, 2013, granted logistics services for a study visit in Lithuania, organized from funds managed by UNDP.

The fight between the wife of Governor of National Bank of Moldova and the wife of the Minister of Economy

On December 6, 2013, the Ministry of Economy and Energy Efficiency Agency organized “Gala Moldova Eco-Energy”, 2013 edition, the biggest contest rewarding successful initiatives in the renewable energy sector. The event was attended by over 300 guests, representatives of leadership of Moldova, ministers, ambassadors, representatives of international organizations, private sector, academic and civil society. The event was funded by the European Union, the UNDP Moldova co-financing.

For the logistics organization of the Gala, on October 3, UNDP has initiated a contest. Until October 16^th, several companies were to submit their offers to win this tender. Three companies enrolled. One of them is the company for translation and event organization “Berlizzo-Group” –Anodilia Ltd, led by Otilia Dragutanu, wife of the governor of the National Bank, Dorin Dragutan, who appears as a founder of another 4 companies. Another company participating in the tender was “Tatra-Bis” Ltd, founded by Tatiana Lazar.

Lazar family company, the winner

Finally, “Tatra-Bis” Ltd was designated the winner of the tender with the amount of 28 200 USD, equivalent to 366 000 lei, for offering logistics required for a good evolvement of the Gala organized by the Ministry of Economy. I tried to find out if it is about a conflict of interest. “The tender was attended by three companies. “Tatra-Bis” had the best deal and won. The tender is executed under the terms of procuring available for UNDP. Under our conditions, it would be a conflict of interest if the evaluation team would have a link to that company. None of us have any contact. In addition, it was the best deal. We have discussed the issue. We have put this question before bidding.  Jointly was concluded that it is not relevant for us”, said Mihail Măciucă, organizer of the tender from UNDP.

The wife of National Bank of Moldova governor, Otilia Dragutanu, friend with minister’s Lazar wife, told us that if this year, her company “Berlizzo Group” – Anodilia Ltd did not win the tender, will try next year to come up with a better offer. “The truth is that colleagues from UNDP evaluation committee are people that I know and I do not have a doubt about their impartiality. I have total confidence in those who have been in the committee. Accordingly, if we were not the ones selected, it means that someone among our colleagues and partners had a better offer. We will try next year to present a better offer. That is all I can say”, said Otilia Dragutanu.

Tatiana Lazar: I could not believe I won!

Tatiana Lazar recognizes that “Tatra-Bis” Ltd did not have the best concept of organizing the Gala, but says that they were the best at the price chapter. “I did not believe that I won! It is clear that you do not see it accidental. But my husband do not work at UNDP and it is not the first time I win with them. Yes, I understand that I am the wife of Lazar, but what can I do now? Stay at home, steal, what should I do? There are dozens of tenders in which we participate. I am 50-50 in the company with the Slovakian friend and he does not understand much. I tell him: Emilian, there is no point to participate  in the ticket tender from the Ministry of Economy, as my husband will say: “Tatra Bis” SRL – no! Because things will be misinterpreted. Emilian doesn’t agree and says: we must, we must … “, declared Tatiana Lazar.

Lazar family business connected to offshore companies

Lazar family companies are registered on his wife, Tatiana Lazar, and their son, Mircea Lazar, both being companies founders,  and business partners with several offshore companies. In 2000, Valeriu Lazar founded the Agency “Intelligent Services” , which subsequently, renamed the Company “Business Intelligent Services’ (BIS) Ltd. According to the State Registration Chamber (SRC), as founders are registered Liviu Gumovschi, with the lowest participation rate, of 10%, Tatiana Lazar with 42% and the company ICS “Maxbury Corporation-M” Ltd. with 48%.

Unique Founder ICS “Maxbury Corporation-M” Ltd. is the British company “Maxbury Corporation LLP”, with a capital of 9.1 million lei. Information obtained from the “Companies House” – Executive Agency of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Britain, an institution similar to the SRC in Moldova, shows that, as shareholders to “Maxbury Corporation Ltd”, are recorded another two Offshore companies: Hightech Agency LTD, based in Belize, and Quadro Management Ltd, based in Seychelles.

Companies registered on the same address

At the same time, FCE “Maxbury Corporation-M” Ltd listed as a founder in two other companies, where the founder is also Mircea Lazar, 22-year-old son of the Minister of Economy. A close relationship between Lazar family business and company FCE “Maxbury Corporation -M “Ltd. is explained by the fact that they are registered on the same address in Chisinau, on str.Bernardazzi 53, ap 4. “Company Maxbury is a particular topic. I’ll return to this topic after I talk to my family”, told us Tatiana Lazar.  Subsequently, she got back with a message: “I think you can get more information from Andrei Crigan, BIS director”.

“What can I tell you, FCE “Maxbury Corporation-M” Ltd. is one of our founders. It is our client. We are a group of companies. It is an ordinary form of investment in a partnership. They offer funding to us as well. Referring to the BIS I will respond. What refers to “Maxbury Corporation LLP”, try to find yourself, because you are the guys who do investigations and have access to more information. Good luck!”, commented Andrei Crigan, administrator of the “Business Intelligent Services” Ltd.

Minister Lazar: What do I have to do with your clarifications?

Slovakian Emilian Dzugas, business partner of Tatiana Lazar, appears as a single founder at comany FCE “Emil & Ian Service” Ltd, engaged in job placement of people in Moldova and abroad, hotel and transportation services. In an audit report of the Court of Auditors, made ​​at the Ministry of Economy, it shows that “The audit found irregularities in the purchase of passenger air transport services, committed at certain stages of the procurement process, which does not exclude a possible  favoring of the economic agent declared the winner”. We tried to find out whether the favored agent would be the tourist company of Tatiana Lazar and her business partner.

“If it comes to transportation, my partner has a transport company. Maybe that is how they have provided services, but Tatiana Lazar has nothing on this company”, said the minister’s wife. Contacted by ZdG, Emilian Dzugas told us that his company has signed contracts with several state institutions, but for more details to contact the manager of the FCE “ Emil&Ian Service” Ltd, Nelli Zastavneţchi. “Yes, we offered transportation services to the Ministry of Economy, but not air transportation. We offered transportation services to the Parliament as well, even in 2011, when U.S. Vice President Joe Biden came to Chisinau. Everything was done through auctions”, says Zastavneţchi.

We tried to talk to the Minister Valeriu Lazar to make some clarifications about his family businesses in relation to the Ministry of Economy. Contacted by ZdG, Lazar replied: “What do I have to do with your clarifications? Namely in terms of this article, make a written request and we will give you a written response. That is how we proceed, to not fall into the interpretations. So is right. Cheers!”.

Iurie SANDUŢA