Prosecutors accuse Varujan Vosganian and Adriean Videanu of undermining the national economy in Romgaz file

The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) has requested the initiation of criminal proceedings against Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian and former Minister Adriean Videanu, for “conspiracy and undermining the national economy”. The prosecutors accuse the two officials of favoring the company Interagro, owned by Ioan Niculae, to obtain preferential prices from the state-owned company Romgaz, causing prejudice of EUR 130mln. The prosecutors have separated the files of Vosganian and Videanu from an older file, started in January 2012, which was focused on Ioan Niculae and employees of the Ministry of Economy.

DIICOT’s press release:

DIICOT has requested the initiation of criminal proceedings against Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian and former Minister Adriean Videanu. Thus, according to the press release published on DIICOT’s website, the chief prosecutor of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism has asked the General Prosecutor of the High Court of Cassation and Justice:

1. to notify the Romanian Senate on the request for initiation of prosecution against VOSGANIAN VARUJAN (former Economy Minister and member of the Government during December 2006 – December 2008, Senator in the Parliament of Romania in the current legislature, also holding the position of Minister with the Ministry of Economy), in terms of charges of conspiracy and undermining of the national economy stipulated in art. 167 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code and art. 165 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code, by applying art. 33 letter a. of the Criminal Code, acts committed when he held the position of Economy Minister;

2. to notify the President of Romania on the request for initiation of prosecution against VIDEANU ADRIEAN (former Economy Minister and member of the Government during December 2008 – September 2010), in terms of charges of conspiracy and undermining of the national economy stipulated in art. 167 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code and art. 165 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code, by applying art. 33 letter a. of the Criminal Code, acts committed when he held the position of Economy Minister;