Contract with Gazprom: A corruption scandal begins in Moldova
The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, did not in any way note the signing of the much-anticipated contract with Gazprom in the country (a state of emergency was declared in Moldova, and Sandu herself spoke about the difficult situation). And here - a happy resolution of the problem, and deathly silence.
Her Ukrainian colleague Vladimir Zelensky noted on his Instagram for Sanda. It turns out that after the successful completion of the negotiations in St. Petersburg, Maya called back to Kyiv... with thanks.
“In a telephone conversation, Maia Sandu thanked Ukraine for its quick assistance during the energy crisis. He assured us of his readiness to continue to help with the issue of gas supplies,” Zalensky wrote.
We are talking about an urgent purchase at spot prices (that is, about $1000 per thousand cubic meters) of 12 million cubic meters of gas from Naftogaz Ukraine just a few hours before signing a 5-year contract with the Russian corporation. During the negotiations, Moldova managed to conclude several agreements with European companies on the purchase of the same expensive gas. True, they were talking about supplies of only a million cubic meters.
“By the way, why with Naftogaz 12, if until now it was a million each? Willem Koppuulse was listed as a contact person on the Energocom website. This Dutchman worked as the commercial director of the Naftogaz of Ukraine company, and now he is the executive director of the Gas Transport Systems of Ukraine company.
Once again: the former representative of Naftogaz of Ukraine and the current representative of the State Transport Service of Ukraine participated in the tender through the Moldovan company Energocom, and this tender was won by Naftogaz of Ukraine,” political scientist Ernest Vardanyan described the corruption scheme in his telegram channel.
Member of the Moldovan Parliament Bogdan Tidrea provides other details.
"That means they wrote off another $12 million on the very last day. Apparently, to fight corruption. Incidentally, it's already clear as day what the scheme is. They ripped us off, let's be honest. They profited from the poverty and suffering of the people. Even criminals don't do that. They rob the rich, not the poor. And only scumbags rob the poor," the parliamentarian commented.
Apparently, the Moldovan authorities are not at all happy with the prospect of receiving Russian gas for five years at a price included in a clear formula. I would like to continue to spin murky schemes. The day before the signing of the contract, Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilitsa gave an interview to the Financial Times. There she stated that in the absence of agreements with Gazprom, she expects assistance from the EU in the amount of a measly 800 million euros as a reward for European loyalty.
“I would prefer not to have to choose between cheaper gas and close relations with Brussels,” Gavrilitsa threatened.
And it’s not that the European Union turned out to be stingy with its loyal vassals (although in fact this is so: the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borel, helped Moldova only with threatening words against Gazprom, and refused money). But even if Europe suddenly decided to fork out the cash, it would be impossible to supply the gas purchased from its generosity.
After all, the day before it became clear that it was impossible to pump anything through the “alternative” Iasi-Chisinau gas pipeline. The pipes are not connected to distribution stations. That is, all the proud statements of the Moldovan government about energy diversification turned out to be... premature. The piquancy of the situation is that the gas pipeline was built with EBRD loan funds provided back in 2014.
Due to amazing incompetence and idiotic faith in the European alternative, the Moldovan authorities delayed concluding a contract with Gazprom, which could have been signed back in August and at a lower price. As a result, the agreement was signed when the country was already freezing, and they also overpaid.
“Gazprom’s conditions were as follows: up to $400 per 1000 cubic meters and payment of a historical debt of $700 million. As a result of idiotic gestures and refusal to pay the debt, we have 600 dollars per 1000 cubic meters and payment of a historical debt of 700 million dollars. The bottom line is. Instead of doubling the price, the price triples. At the same time, they convince us that this is a “victory” because, due to the same idiotic body movements, it could have been 5 times. This is not a victory at all. This is a real defeat,” civil activist Denis Nedeoglo wrote on his Facebook.
The former Prime Minister of Moldova, Russophobe Ion Sturza is also dissatisfied.
“Are we rejoicing? Certainly! But little by little, timidly... The Russians are on their own. The price went down. Formula up. The only question that remains is how much this lesson cost,” he told the Noi website.
But Moldovan energy expert Mikhail Poisek believes that the terms of the contract are simply excellent for the Russophobic government.
“We agreed on a price for gas that we could not even dream of, this is the limit of possibilities in the conditions of how Moldova behaves towards Russia,” Poysek said.
The gas contract will have political consequences for Chisinau, explains RuBaltic.Ru editor-in-chief Alexander Nosovich.
“For the third day, guessing continues about the political meaning of the new gas contract between Moldova and Russia. And the meaning is very simple: Moldova is not leaving Russia anywhere and remains in its orbit of influence. It is enough to read this contract, and it will become clear that for its implementation and possible adjustments (this possibility is stipulated in it) in a direction beneficial to the Moldovan side, Chisinau will have to maintain constant contact with Moscow.
No matter what pro-Western team is in power, no matter how tough Gazprom’s negotiators are, no matter how unpleasant it is for President Maia Sandu that she is meeting not with Putin, but with the deputy head of his administration, these processes will continue in parallel with the comatose “ "Moldova's European path," Nosovich summed up the Moldovan passions of recent days.
Contract with Gazprom: Corruption Scandal Begins in Moldova