Moldova demands Russia to return Chisinau airport

Moldova’s government casts doubt on the legality of the deal under which Avia Invest international airport of Chisinau was transferred to concession of a Russian company. A working group has been set up to look into the deal and the consequences of the contract’s termination, Valeriu Strelet, Prime Minister of Moldova, said in Chisinau. 

“At the operative meeting of the government, a decision was made to set up a working group on the basis of the substantiations provided by the National Anticorruption Center. It will look into the legality of the airport’s transfer to concession of the Russian company, implementation of the leasing contract, and consequences of the contract’s termination,” Strelet said.

In his words, the Anticorruption Center conducted an investigation and revealed that “the airport’s profits are not used purposefully, and part of the funds are invested in a football club in Moldova instead of investments in the airport infrastructure.” The owner of that football club – Mayor of Orhei Ilan Shor – is suspected in embezzlement of more than one billion dollars from the Moldovan banking system. 

Earlier in 2013, the international airport of Chisinau was transferred to concession of Avia Invest, Russia, for 49 years. Later, most of the political leaders in Moldova began demanding the airport back to nationalize it again.