The executive director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms (IPRE) Iulian Groza ascertains with regret that the Prosecutor General’s Office has been involved in the settling of accounts between kleptocratic groups. According to him, the accusations made by the prosecutor general against civil society organizations, research centers and the development partners are regrettable and worrisome. The reaction comes after Alexandr Stoianoglo said that he is the target of a discrediting campaign that was planned with the direct involvement of criminal groups and politicians, through a network of NGOs and so-called independent experts, IPN reports.
The IPRE director said Alexandr Stoianoglo represents a key institution that should ensure order and enforce the law in the Republic of Moldova and should not attack independent experts for their opinions and recommendations.
“As always, the team of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms, together with other partner civil society organizations and in cooperation with the development partners and the national public authorities, will continue to fulfill their duties in strict compliance with the law, our statutes and mission, aiming to promote and support the Republic of Moldova, to strengthen the rule of law, the functioning of institutions in the public interest and in the interests of citizens, in accordance with the international commitments undertaken by the Association Agreement with the European Union,” stated the IPRE director.
Iulian Groza noted that he is in Washington on a working visit and is to meet, together with mates, with high-rankings officials to discuss the main developments, challenges and priorities related to Moldova’s reform agenda. The prosecutor general’s assertions will be analyzed and a position will be presented later.
In a press conference on October 4, Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo said that he became “the first and main target” in the war against corruption announced by the PAS government. According to the prosecutor, a campaign to discredit him was planned with the direct involvement of criminal groups and politicians, through the agency of a network of NGOs and so-called independent experts. Stoianoglo made reference to a number of events and studies presented by IPRE, saying that the PGO’s activity is criticized in these. Moreover, he said representatives of the Institute supported the former head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office Viorel Morari and these have communicated with him.
