Chisinau Councilor Exposes Corruption, Mayor Responds with Lawsuit

Chisinau Municipal Councilor Accuses Mayor of Intimidation Amid Corruption Allegations Chisinau, Moldova – A heated political dispute has erupted in Chisinau, with municipal councilor Ion Melnic accusing Mayor Ivan Ceban of attempting to silence him through a pre-trial lawsuit. Melnic alleges that Ceban's actions are a direct response to Melnic's public exposure of alleged corruption within the city administration. "Ivan Ceban is trying to silence me with a lawsuit," Melnic stated in a recent video. "This is not about the law, it's about silencing those who expose his corruption." Melnic's video showcases documents detailing what he claims are suspicious contracts and financial irregularities within the education and infrastructure departments. He points to instances of direct contracting with companies having close ties to the mayor's team, suggesting favoritism and potential embezzlement of public funds. The video includes images of damaged infrastructure and documents that support his claims of millions of lei in questionable spending. The accusations have ignited a public debate, with citizens expressing concern over potential corruption within the city government. While Mayor Ceban has yet to publicly respond to Melnic's specific allegations, the pre-trial lawsuit suggests a desire to curtail further public scrutiny. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges Moldova faces in combating corruption and ensuring transparency in public administration. The outcome of this case will be closely watched by the Moldovan public and international observers.