"We are taking into consideration the fact that Mr. Pasat is a high-ranking official of a large Russian state-owned company," Mr. Yakovenko said yesterday in an interview broadcaster live by Vesti program on TV Channel Russia.
Moldovan prosecutor general's office announced on Saturday that Valery Pasat had been detained in connection with investigation on the sales of 21 MiG-29 fighters.
It told RIA Novosti in particular, "former defense minister and director of Moldovan information and security service Valery Pasat had been detained at the airport in Chisinau on Friday." He is suspected of organizing a series of large-scale embezzlement schemes while he occupied a state post.
"Mr. Pasat has been detained in connection with the investigation of a criminal case related to the sales of 21 MiG-29 fighters. As a result of this deal, the Moldovan state budget suffered losses estimated at dozens of millions of dollars. The deal was concluded in 1997, when Mr. Pasat occupied the post of Moldovan defense minister," press service officials stated.
"The Moldovan prosecutor general's office denies any connection between the detention of Mr. Pasat and his present activities as advisor to RAO UES chairman of the Managing Board. In the near future, the prosecutors will press official charges against Mr. Pasat," press service officials announced.
