Moldova Airline Privatization Controversy – Co-founder Gareth Sheridan
Air Moldova Privatization Scandal Shadows Presidential Hopeful’s Associate
Recent scrutiny surrounding the privatization of Air Moldova has cast a shadow on Vitalie Botgros, a meaningful shareholder in Nutriband adn a business associate of Irish presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan. While there is no suggestion of mr. Sheridan’s involvement in the Air Moldova deal, the controversy raises questions about the backgrounds of those connected to his business ventures.
Money Laundering Allegations and Asset Seizures
The Moldovan National Anti-Corruption Center launched an inquiry into alleged large-scale money laundering related to the privatization of Air Moldova. The agency seized assets belonging to both the airline and a Romanian company as part of the probe. According to the agency, the privatization involved a series of fictitious transactions.
Igor Munteanu, chairman of an ad-hoc parliamentary committee in Moldova, highlighted irregularities in the payment process, alleging that part of the payment for the airline was transacted in cash and that creditors were not paid funds owed to them.Dublin Airport Incident and high Court Ruling
In 2021, an Air Moldova Airbus A319 was prevented from departing Dublin Airport following a prosperous application for its seizure in the High Court.The ruling favored a Romanian aircraft leasing firm that had won a €4.2 million arbitration award against Air Moldova. The court heard that moldova’s criminal assets recovery agency had seized Air Moldova assets in 2019 as part of its money laundering investigation.
Links to Russian Oligarchs and Vitalie Botgros’s Role
Following the privatization, media reports suggested potential links between the airline’s purchase and Russian oligarchs associated with the ownership of Chisinau International Airport.
adding to the complexity, Vitalie Botgros, a lawyer from Moldova and the largest shareholder in Nutriband (owning 39% of shares compared to Mr. Sheridan’s 17.6%), previously worked for Transmasholding, a Russian conglomerate with ties to the Moldovan airport. Botgros worked for the now sanctioned Transmashholding between 2005 and 2006 and served as chairman of Nutriband between 2016 and 2020. This connection has drawn further attention to the Air Moldova privatization and its potential ramifications.
Sheridan’s Response and Future Developments
Mr. Sheridan is scheduled to hold a press conference in Dublin to address questions surrounding his presidential bid. He has been contacted for comment, as has Mr. Melnik, regarding the Air Moldova situation and its potential implications. A spokesman for Mr. Sheridan had not provided comment at the time of going to print. Efforts to contact Mr. Melnik were unsuccessful ahead of publication.