The Minister of Economy, Anatol Usatîi stated that the tenders for road repairing and rehabilitation work for several Moldovan roads can’t be published in the European Union (EU) Official Journal. The Deputy Chief Chairman of the Parliament and representative of the Truth and Dignity Platform, Alexandru Slusari required written explanations from Usatîi. And if Usatîi fails to do so Slusari will demand his resignation. When contacted by ZdG, Usatii specified that he will provide documents. 

Previously, in January 2020, the Minister of Economy, Anatol Usatîi failed to publish in the EU Official Journal tenders for road repairing and rehabilitation work for several Moldovan roads. 

After that the Deputy Chairman of the Parliament, and representative of the Truth and Dignity Platform, Alexandru Slusari required during a press conference public explanations from Usatîi regarding the unpublished tenders.

Slusari also required the General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate Usatîi’s actions, for exceeding his authority and abuse of power. 

Slusari declared that according to the legislation the tenders that exceed €4.6 million (90 million lei) must be published in the EU Official Journal.

And although in previous similar cases, Usatîi has motivated this through the fact that Moldova is not an EU member state, Slusari affirmed that such calls were published in the EU Official Journal in the past. 

„This entire scheme, from our trustworthy sources, is connected to the Russian loan, that, with lots of ceremonies was announced by Dodon and in January it seems that everything was already set up. 

All the questions addressed to the State Road Administration gave the same answer – that soon the money from Russia are coming, the winners of the tenders are almost announced and that they must hurry to launch the works in March, Dodon has to „cut the ribbon” on all the construction sites, the works need to be done as soon as possible.

If this is true, this is very serious, the legislation is infringed, our development partners are deceived, and all for the sake of Dodon’s electoral campaign, and all this is happening under the circumstances that no clear, stable funding source exists,” Slusari has stated.  

In this context, Alexandru Slusari asks Anatol Usatii to present him with public explanations and written evidence that it was not possible to act according to the public procurement legislation, to present arguments as soon as possible. 

Contacted by ZdG, Anatol Usatii specified that he will revert with an answer to Slusari’s request. While requested about his resignation, Usatîi said that Slusari has the right to request it. 

„The Ministry does not have the responsibility to react to declarations. This is not normal. We will provide a formal answer, we will present documents. We shall see, we are discussing this at team level. 

The information is available and was presented a long time ago, not just during the television show that is referenced in this case, but also during the Government session and on other occasions. 

Moldova is not part of the EU and in this case, only the projects that are being financed or co-financed by European funds can be publishes,”  Usatîi declared for ZdG. 

When asked what funds will be used for road repairing, he said that the money will be from the state budget, after Russia will provide a credit, without specifying when exactly this will may happen. 

Nicoleta Braghiș,