Polaris airline allegations rejected by Recean
Dorin Recean, the former Prime Minister of Moldova whom some analysts have described as a potential successor to President Maia Sandu, has denied having any connection to the Polaris airline.
His statement came amid a widening controversy involving the state-owned air navigation company MoldATSA. Recean, who now serves as the President’s Special Envoy for Development and Resilience, responded after Dragoș Galbur publicly alleged that he was linked to Polaris.
Galbur also claimed that former Democratic Party minister Marcel Răducan was behind the company. According to the article, that allegation has not been formally denied, and no defamation proceedings have been brought against Galbur.
In a social media post, Recean complained that the “fantastic scale” of false claims directed against him was intended to undermine public trust in honest officials.
“False accusations have recently reached fantastic proportions, and this is being done so that people begin to question everything and everyone, lose the ability to distinguish truth from lies and, consequently, so that trust in our society is weakened,” he claimed.
The former prime minister also insisted that all his assets had been formally declared and were publicly available through the website of the National Integrity Authority (ANI).
“I emphasise once again that all my assets are exactly as stated in my declaration of assets and personal interests. I do not own, directly or indirectly, any other assets, property or real estate beyond what is included in the declaration and can be found on the ANI website,” Recean said.
Recean confirms role on MoldATSA board
While rejecting the Polaris airline allegations, Recean did not deny his involvement with MoldATSA. He confirmed that he serves on the supervisory board of the state-owned company.
According to Recean, he joined the board with a specific mandate to restructure the enterprise and prevent abuses. He said his role would end in late August, when the restructuring plan is expected to be completed.
“I joined with a clearly defined responsibility, the restructuring of the enterprise. My mandate will end in late August, together with the completion of the restructuring plan, which will also include reducing overlapping functions and eliminating opportunities for abuse within the company,” he declared.
Questions nevertheless remain over why alleged irregularities at MoldATSA have so far been exposed mainly by journalists rather than by officials close to President Maia Sandu or by the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS).
The dispute has added to scrutiny of the management of state enterprises and the role of politically connected officials on supervisory boards.
Competition in Moldova’s aviation market
The controversy surrounding Polaris is particularly notable because the company reportedly does not currently operate any aircraft and has yet to receive the permits required to begin flights. Despite this, a significant dispute has already emerged over the company and its possible place in Moldova’s aviation market.
The controversy began after the Council for the Examination of Investments of Importance to State Security (CEIISS) suspended approval of an investment involving Fly One, an airline founded by former Justice Minister Vladimir Cebotari.
Critics allege that efforts are being made to push competitors out of the market in the interests of Polaris. These claims remain unproven, but they have intensified the political debate surrounding the airline. Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Bolea, commenting on the situation, said he had heard of Polaris for the first time and stressed that his ministry was not responsible for attracting airlines to the country.
For now, Recean has firmly rejected the Polaris airline allegations, while acknowledging his formal role at MoldATSA. Whether the dispute develops into an official investigation or remains a political confrontation will depend on whether further evidence emerges.
