Madalin NecsutuChisinauBIRNJanuary 26, 202314:12Audit has revealed scale of dubious expenses in Russian Gazprom’s subsidiary in Moldova over a period of ten years.
A meeting of Moldovagaz directors at its headquarters in Chisinau May 22, 2022. Photo: Moldovagaz Facebook page
A financial audit report by the Court of Accounts in Moldova on the economic activity of Moldovagaz, Gazprom’s subsidiary in Moldova, revealed dubious “non-compliant” expenses of over 2 billion Moldovan lei [100 million euros] between 2011 and 2021.
The director of Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, on Wednesday told the parliamentary commission that the worst excesses recorded by the auditors concerned the period before he took office, until 2019.
The information was made public on Wednesday by a deputy of the ruling Action and Solidarity Party, Radu Marian. “The report findings are severe,” he stated.
The findings about “non-compliant” spending refer to dubious investments and expenditures and cover-ups of the debt owed by Gazprom to the breakaway region of Transnistria.
Transnistria has not been paying for Gazprom’s energy for more than 15 years and has since accumulated a debt of over 9 billion US dollars. The free Russian gas keeps the separatist regime’s economy afloat.
The report also refers to losses in the network amounting to 2 billion lei in the period 2011-2021.
Gazprom holds a controlling stake in Moldovagaz with around 64.67 per cent of the shares. The Economy Ministry is a minority shareholder with 35.33 per cent.
Among the dubious and unfounded expenses noted were 815 million lei [over 40 million euros] of expenses of 500 million lei [about 25 million lei] spent on a new headquarters for Moldovagaz.
Unjustified expenses for the procurement of software amounted to another 135 million lei [almost 7 million euros], besides overpriced purchases of 153 million lei [about 7.5 million euros], and salaries and unjustified bonuses of 246 million lei [about 12 million euros]
“Because many of the findings are particularly serious, we will also hear this report in the plenary session of parliament … Then, the legislature will prepare a decision that will draw up actions and tasks for state institutions to improve the situation in the field,” said Radu Marian.
However, the director of Moldovagaz, Ion Ceban, on Wednesday told a TV show that most of the findings of the Court of Accounts audit report were not new.
“Most of the problems were dealt with even during this audit. A road map is being developed through which we will improve all the business processes within the company,” Ceban said.
Gazprom bought Moldovagaz in 1999. The Moldovan authorities have frequently accused Moscow of using the company as a lever of political pressure on the country’s pro-European leadership. At the same time, Gazprom insists that it is only concerned about business.
Source link: balkaninsight.com
