Goncharenko: Moldova is to face international courts in case of pressure on airport concessionaire

Avia Invest, the company controlling Chisinau International Airport, published clarifications as to media reports on Andrei Goncharenko, the new beneficiary of Komaksavia Airport Invest Ltd, which owns a 95% stake in Avia Invest. According to the company, speculative statements appeared in some Moldovan media. In this context, Andrei Goncharenko made the following statement: "The recent information in the media of the Republic of Moldova that I have problems with justice in the Russian Federation has no basis. I declare with full responsibility that I am not hiding from the justice of any country, I continue to carry out my activities as an entrepreneur, and I am currently in Moscow. Earlier, I already publicly announced my intentions regarding the Chisinau International Airport and am ready to repeat them any needed time It is obvious that investments, including from own funds, will be only made if a favorable investment climate and with the assistance of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, "Goncharenko said. "In the early spring this year I intend to start the Chisinau Airport Transformation into an important international air hub in the region. First of all is to be built an ultramodern terminal which will create several thousand jobs for Moldovan citizens. However, the continued attacks by officials in violation of the Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation on the promotion and mutual protection of capital investments dated 03/17/1998 raise reasonable concerns about the security of any investment of Russian citizens in the Republic, "the Russian businessman claims. “The statement of the executive authorities about the alleged illegality of the concession agreement is surprising because it violates the principle of powers separation. Whether or not a civil contract is recognized as legal is the exclusive prerogative of the court that has repeatedly spoken out on this issue. Any actions by officials that contradict court decisions adopted for populist purposes will have legal consequences and be challenged in international courts.   I do have sufficient funds to hire and pay the world's leading law firms. I have no doubts about the legitimacy of the agreement and existance of serious juridical facts for litigation at law on the world stage, "Goncharenko said. “The decision of the leadership to start a legal battle with an investor from a friendly country with a large expenditure of budgetary funds for this, without an obvious result for each citizen of the Republic, and not fruitful work on the joint development of not only Chisinau airport, but also other infrastructure projects of the country, is astonishing. However, I am convinced that in this situation common sense will prevail and a dialogue with officials of the Republic will be established to implement this ambitious investment project, "the Russian businessman said.