According to some priests, President Igor Dodon supposedly donated over 150 euros to churches in Chișinău and entire Moldova. And while some priests were happy about the donation, others criticized it claiming that this is dirty money. The Moldovan Metropolitane Church refused to tell us if they are aware of such donations, but the Presidency claims that there were no donations from the institutions. 

ZdG spoke with several priests from different corners of the country. 

Priest Ioan Mutu told to ziarulnational.md that the President of the Călărași district, (the center of Moldova) Ștefan Bolea has distributed over 150 euros (3,000 lei) to each priest in the district from President Igor Dodon. 

On April 18, Saint Panteleimon Church, from Bălți, the north of Moldova, decided to refuse the over 150 euros (3,000 lei) donation offered by Dodon. 

According to ZdG’s sources, the bishop of Bălți and Fălești, (both in the north of the country) Marcel, was involved in distributing the money. He created a list of those who will accept the donation and gathered the priests for a service distributing the help. 

On April 21, Ioan Mutu and Florin Marin, two bishops subordinated to the Bassarabian Metropolitanate, from Călărași, declared for ZdG that they found out that all the priests from the district subordinated to Moldovan Metropolitanate supposedly received money from Ștefan Bolea. According to the two bishops, Ștefan Bolea told the priests that the money was from Dodon. 

The priest Ioan Mutu also claimed that the priests were told not to disclose anything about the money. 

Ștefan Bolea claimed that he made a donation on behalf of his family to the church in Raciula, the center of Moldova. He also mentioned that someone is trying to put some dirt on him or on Dodon. 

The priest Nicolae Mutu ensured us that he did not receive any money at all. Moreover, he states that he isn’t even acquainted with Ștefan Bolea, the president of the Călărași district. 

ZdG asked the priest Nicolae Mutu about the donation made by Ștefan Bolea himself. The priest told us that he doesn’t know where Ștefan Bolea made his donation because there are more churches in Răciula, but he praised his donation wishing him good health. 

We’ve tried to discuss with two more priests, but one refused to talk with us and another claimed that the information about the money is wrong and hang up. 

The archbishop from Călărași, Grigore Dodon, claimed that he knew nothing about these donations and that the Bassarabian Metropolitan Church was envious and makeup things. 

ZdG has discussed also with some priests from other regions of the country. In Cahul and Comrat, south of Moldova, representatives of the main church institutions told us that all the priests received the money. And two priests admitted they accepted the donation. One of the priests told us that they didn’t know from whom comes the help, but they are glad it reached them. The priest also mentioned that they gave the money to poorer churches. 

The other three priests from the Orhei district, the center of Moldova, claimed they refused the money. Moreover, one of the priests claimed that they should promote the idea to not receive bribes, to not bribe, to live honestly and clean, and taking the money would have been against these principles. The priests also mentioned that by taking the money they might be pushed to promote political ideas in the church. 

Another priest from Bălți claimed he refused Dodon’s help. He thinks that the donation is somewhat connected to the upcoming presidential elections in fall. He added that he has never taken any money from anyone. He claimed that the priests are not for sale and they don’t need dirty money, mentioning that if someone wants to make a donation that person shouldn’t show off. 

The priest also mentioned that someone came and made a list with those that want to receive the money. Another priest from Bălți mentioned that he also refused the money. 

 Igor Cojocaru, a representative of a church in Rezina, the north of Moldova, claimed that he heard about the over 150 euros (3,000 lei) help, but he didn’t receive them. He added that if a company would’ve offered the money they would’ve taken them. However, they can’t take the money from the state as the policemen and the doctors need the money more.

Other priests from the churches in the north of the country claimed that although they didn’t hear about the help, it would be welcomed during this period.  

Anatolie Ștefanov, the archpriest from the Ialoveni district, the center of Moldova, considers that it is not important who donates the money, mentioning that his church is happy to receive financial support from anyone. 

Another priest told us that he is also expecting financial support, mentioning that the president should take care of the citizens. He says that now he is forced to work in construction. 

The vicar of a church in Chișinău, Octavian Mosin, thinks that the donations were coordinated with the superiors. He specifies that it is easier for him than for other priests because he has other activities, and is not dependent on the money collected in the church. The priest mentioned that he didn’t receive any donations coming from political people. A priest from a church close to Chișinău hopes that the situation comes to normal, claiming that there is no need for Dodon, or Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump to help out, as they count only on their people. 

The bishop of Bălți and Fălești, Marcel stated he knew nothing of such help and didn’t want to comment. 

At the same time, some priests have refused to say if they received money or not. When we spoke with a priest from a church in Chișinău, he was continuously asking us how much money under the table we get. 

Recently, a deputy from the Socialist Party, Vlad Batrîncea, claimed that journalists receive money under the table from the West. The representatives of the media NGOs criticized the deputy’s statements. 

ZdG spoke with the representative of Moldovan Metropolitanate Church, Vadim Cheibaș, asking if he was aware of Dodon’s donations to the churches. He told us that he is not obliged to answer to our questions. 

However, Moldova’s Presidency claimed that there were no donations. The communication representative in the Presidency, Carmena Lupei, stated that there were no donations made for churches.