Former deputy mayor challenges Chisinau mayor to public debate

Former deputy mayor of Chișinău municipality Irina Gutnic is challenging capital’s mayor Ion Ceban to a public debate and is making serious accusations regarding alleged illegalities within the municipal administration. Gutnic has brought serious accusations against mayor Ion Ceban, targeting alleged administrative illegalities, “money laundering” schemes, hirings made in violation of legal provisions, and supposed links between the mayor and the Russian Federation.

“I challenge Ion Ceban to come out with me in a public debate and for us to look each other in the eye. And then the citizens can see who is lying and who is not. (...) I challenge Ion Ceban to come to a TV show and tell me when he looked me in the eye and saw the reasons for my resignation. I had two brief discussions throughout Monday, through his intermediaries, who tried to intimidate me into voluntarily submitting my resignation from the position of deputy mayor. I was intimidated from 7:00 a.m. to go to Apa-Canal, under the pretext that there it would be best for me, that there would be no pressure, no blackmail, and I would just sit quietly there,” Irina Gutnic said on Pro TV Chișinău.

Irina Gutnic said that several decisions of the Municipal Commission for Exceptional Situations were allegedly adopted without legal grounds and that the officials involved risked sanctions for signing them.

“I will not leave anything out. But today I can give one example. Previously, together with the team, we were liable to be held administratively accountable because we jointly signed a decision of the Commission for Exceptional Situations, when it was about the General Directorate of Education, and we were all supposed to be suspended from office. There was a big fuss that it was a political order. No, it was not a political order. The Commission for Emergency Situations at the municipal level does not have the competence to adopt decisions when a state of emergency has not been declared at the national level. But in order to fulfill his electoral cravings and not only that, we are forced to adopt certain decisions which, as I said, go beyond the limits of legality,” the former deputy mayor said.

The former deputy mayor also referred to an emergency meeting at which interventions by the Chișinău City Hall in the town of Durlești were allegedly discussed. Municipal teams were sent to repair roads, remove waste, and clean the streets on the basis of a decision she considers illegal.

Irina Gutnic accused Ion Ceban of alleged links with the Russian Federation, referring to a single detail which, according to her, she will make public at the right time. Irina Gutnic stated that she will later come back with additional information and evidence, emphasizing that she does not intend to “blow up” the political scene, but to present the truth and clarify all the accusations she is making.

“I know how things unfold at City Hall, how the mayor dictates and how every employee is afraid to confront him. When I said that Mr. Ceban represents a danger, that is indeed the case. Regarding relations with the Russian Federation, we will come back with more details, but given Axerov’s presence in Chișinău City Hall, things speak for themselves. He appears in the conviction decision of Dan Cuclescu in the treason case. The question arises as to why the neighboring state imposed an entry ban on him, there is evidence, while the Republic of Moldova cannot find evidence in relation to a citizen of its own country,” Gutnic said.

The former deputy mayor also made other accusations regarding the activity of the municipal administration and its relationship with the Movement Alternative National (MAN) party. According to Irina Gutnic, the majority of City Hall employees are MAN members. She also spoke about the existence of individuals employed under service provision contracts, about whom she claims are working in violation of legal provisions. So far, the mayor of Chișinău municipality has not publicly commented on the accusations made by his former colleague in the municipal administration.

Irina Gutnic announced that on Thursday, May 14, she filed a complaint with the National Anticorruption Center regarding an alleged abuse of power offense which, according to her, was committed by Ion Ceban in the process of her dismissal from office. The former deputy mayor claims that the decision to dismiss her was taken in violation of legal provisions and is requesting that the circumstances be investigated by the competent authorities.