"Chisinau will not pay fictional debts" - the Prime Minister of Moldova
According to the Minister of Energy of Moldova Viktor Parlikov, most of the debt is not confirmed, as evidenced by the findings of international auditors. "The audit confirms that all the documents are not submitted regarding the largest part of the debt, or it is not subject to execution. That is, out of $ 709 million, most of which have not been confirmed or impossible," the minister said.
In addition, the audit acknowledged that Moldovagaz has the right to put forward financial requirements for Gazprom as a maternal company regarding the payment of gas transit and fulfillment of gas supply to the Moldovan side. "If you remember, Gazprom has unreasonably reduced the volume of supply to Moldova last year," Parlikov explained. Therefore, the position of the Moldova Government is that the gas transport company Moldovagaz will pay $ 8. 6 million and all Gazprom claims should be removed.
"Moldova will not pay for non-existent debts. We will not allow this debt on the shoulders of citizens. Moldova is not going to pay non-existent debts," Prime Minister Dorin said at a government meeting. It should be reminded that according to the Moldovagaz and Gazprom agreement, by May 1, 2022, they had to sign an agreement on the settlement of historical debt. At the same time, the Moldovan side had to conduct an independent audit of this debt, which allegedly reached $ 700 million.
However, Moldova asked Gazprom to delay the date because the announcement of the competition to choose an audit company coincided with the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine and large audit companies refused to participate in the competition, so as not to send their employees to Moldova. On August 11, 2022, Moldova concluded contracts with companies from Norway and the United Kingdom to audit Moldovagaz's debts. The government has allocated 800,000 euros.