- The leader of the civic movement “Civic Trust,” Olesea Stamate, has called for an urgent meeting of Moldova’s Supreme Security Council following allegations made by politician Renato Usatîi regarding alleged ties between MP Radu Marian and the head of a criminal call center network.
- Photos and Videos Fuel the Controversy
- Radu Marian Responds
- Allegations Against the Intelligence Service
- Stamate Calls for Immediate Action
The leader of the civic movement “Civic Trust,” Olesea Stamate, has called for an urgent meeting of Moldova’s Supreme Security Council following allegations made by politician Renato Usatîi regarding alleged ties between MP Radu Marian and the head of a criminal call center network.
The controversy erupted after Usatîi, leader of Our Party, claimed during a broadcast on Jurnal TV that Moldovan law enforcement agencies have been protecting a network of fraudulent call centers operating in the country.
According to Usatîi, one of the alleged leaders of these criminal groups is Sorin Guzgan, also known as “Guzya,” who, he claims, maintains close personal ties with MP Radu Marian. Usatîi further alleged that Guzgan attended the parliamentary hearings on combating telephone fraud held on June 12—hearings that were organized by Marian himself.
Usatîi said he was shocked to see Guzgan present at the event.
“This Sorin Guzgan walked into the committee meeting. Honestly, I was shocked when I saw him. He sat against the wall behind Cernăuțeanu and the head of the National Investigation Inspectorate, next to the chief of the penitentiary system. Radu looked nervous. Representatives of the security services immediately began boycotting the meeting. They were outraged: how could someone currently under investigation by European intelligence services for call center fraud be present at these hearings? An ultimatum was issued: if he didn’t leave, all representatives of the security agencies would walk out,” Usatîi claimed.
Usatîi added that Marian and Guzgan are friends, stressing that he was not personally attacking the MP but urging him to admit the relationship before further revelations emerge.
“Mr. Marian, I’m not attacking you, but you should come clean now so that this doesn’t turn into another MoldATSA scandal where you claim you knew nothing. You’ve surrounded yourself with questionable people,” he said.
Photos and Videos Fuel the Controversy
Usatîi’s allegations have been accompanied by photographs and videos that have circulated in the media.
The footage allegedly shows Sorin Guzgan shaking hands with Parliament Speaker and PAS leader Igor Grosu. Guzgan was also reportedly seen at a nightclub alongside MP Radu Marian, former PAS MP Eugeniu Sinchevici, and current Minister of Education Dan Perciun.
Additional images reportedly show Marian calling Guzgan and asking him to leave the parliamentary hearing.
Radu Marian Responds
Marian responded cautiously to the accusations.
In a social media post, he noted that parliamentary hearings are public events open to all citizens who register in advance.
“It is important to understand that anyone can register to attend public parliamentary hearings—they are public by definition. If there is evidence linking any individual to fraud, law enforcement authorities must investigate,” Marian wrote.
The allegations come only days after Marian became embroiled in the MoldATSA scandal, where questions were raised about governance failures and unjustified financial payments.
Following that controversy, Marian stepped down as chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance and acknowledged that he had recommended Dumitru Vangheli for the position of MoldATSA director. Vangheli was later dismissed after allegations that he had falsified documents.
Allegations Against the Intelligence Service
Usatîi also accused the leadership of Moldova’s Information and Security Service (SIS) of attempting to conceal the call center investigation.
According to him, SIS Director Alexandru Musteață received video evidence collected during a lengthy investigation that allegedly implicated senior SIS official Sorin Joșan, who was purportedly instructing fraudsters on how to move illicit funds.
Instead of opening a criminal investigation, Usatîi claims, Musteață simply arranged for Joșan to resign quietly.
Journalists reportedly attempted to contact the SIS director for comment but received no response.
Stamate Calls for Immediate Action
Reacting to the allegations, Olesea Stamate stated that three urgent steps are necessary.
“First, President Maia Sandu must immediately convene the Supreme Security Council. Second, the director of the Information and Security Service, who was also mentioned in these revelations, must hold a public press conference and provide explanations. Third, it is obvious that the Prosecutor’s Office must take action. We are waiting,” she said.
Usatîi has promised to present documentary evidence supporting his claims after speaking with individuals who, according to him, were victims of the alleged fraud network.
Whether the explosive allegations will ultimately result in formal criminal investigations remains to be seen.
