A division that would protect, restore and manage the historical, archeological and architectural heritage in Chisinau will be constituted at municipal level. Such a solution for protecting the heritage was presented by the candidate for Chisinau mayoralty of the Party “Platform Dignity and Truth”, IPN reports.

In a news conference given near the former Synagogue with asylum on Rabbi Tsirilson St, Andrei Nastase said the Register of Municipal Historical Monuments should be reviewed and tax concessions should be offered to those who own or manage a historical building, as they do in many European states. These way, the owners or managers have more obligations, but also tax benefits if they invest in the restoration of historical buildings.

According to the candidate, no strategy for conserving and restoring the historical monuments in Chisinau municipality has been adopted since the declaration of independence and the realty mafia profited from this, being helped, in some cases, by the local public authorities that authorized the demolition of a number of buildings of historical importance. “Time has come to stop this arbitrariness and to propose viable solutions for protecting the historical heritage of Chisinau and restoring the capital city to its former glory,” noted the politician.

Andrei Nastase assured that as a mayor, he will allow no one to destroy the historical and architectural heritage. He made reference to a series of outrageous cases, such as those witnessed at 1 Ciuflea St and near the Embassy of France, where multistory blocks were erected to the detriment of the citizens of Chisinau an for the benefit of the realty mafia.

The leader of the Party “Action and Solidarity” Maia Sandu told the same news conference that Moldova ratified a number of important CE and UNESCO documents, but the undertaken commitments are fully ignored. “There is unprecedented aggression on the part of the realty mafia that demolishes historical buildings and constructs illegally. They demolish and lay the foundations at night and the authorizations and decision that legalize the crime are ready the next day. More than 10% of the buildings included in the Register of Historical Monuments were demolished, partially destroyed or left to go to ruin. There are architectural monuments that weren’t even included in the register,” stated Maia Sandu.