The price of the Romanian kilowatt feeds the accounts of Russo-Moldavian clans. Companies which have imported for years over-priced energetic raw were preferred by the ministers, no matter of the political colour - Dan Ioan Popescu (SDP), Radu Berceanu (former minister Democratic Party).

The story of imported gas from Russian via Wirom is realevant. The reasons have nothing to do with market economy or with citizens' wealth state, while Romanians pay 30-40% more for the gas imported from Russia than Germans, French and other Western countries. As for the fuel oil providers, the Moldavian citizen Iavorski group is first prefered. This prices of the energetic raw is reflected on the entire chain, not only the amount paid for the electricity, but also for thermal energy and, indirectly, for all the consume products. Lately, the minister of Industry, Dan Ioan Popescu, has just announced new increases in prices.

But why does Romania allow itself the luxury of buying basic fuels at so high prices? The explanation must be searched in the key-dealers, maintained in this chain by all the governments for unknown reasons. Only sure thing is that these companies had turnovers of about 50 million dollars a year, and it is not known how much of this amount was transferred to tax heavens. One of the best exemple is the case of Unicom holding, an agent of Constant Oil Ltd, whose head office is in Cyprus. Unicom holding is one of the first suppliers of fuel oil in Romania, with a turnoover of more than 50 million dollars.

Investigated by the police, big investor in Balkans

So-called Дthe aluminium King" in his home country, the Russian billionaire Mikhail Chorny owns business all over the world: real estate in USA and Canada, financement in Switzerland and in tax heavens, bank and telecommunication in Bulgaria, and of course in Russia (80% of his business). In an investigation published one year ago, the French daily ДLe Monde" wrote about the Israelite police allegations against Chorny. The Russian oligarch was accused by Дtrying to illegally buy, via screen-companies and with suspected money, 20% in the main mobile phone company in Israel, Bezeq".

One of the companies through Chorny was suspected to operate, Dilcor International ltd, has been traced also in Romania. In 2000, the Russian oligarch Chorny is suspected to enter on the aluminum Romanian market, in the back of the off-shore Dilcor International ltd, registered in a tax heaven (see facsimile). This company has already bought the aluminium producer Alpro in Oradea (town in the North-West of the country). However, Alpro was only the small pot; the big attempt was, in fact, the acquisition of Alro Slatina, the biggest alumina producer in the region. However, the investigation started by the Israelite police seemed to stop the intended investment in Romania, and the enterprise in Oradea has been closed for more than a year now. Apart from the aluminium industry, the main connection of the Russian oligarch in Romania can be traced in energy big business.

A key-person for the entrance of Dilcor in Romania is the head of fuel oil energy supplier in Romania, Constantin Iavorsky. Born in R. Moldova, Iavorsky used to be Minister of Ressouces in Chisinau. Ever since 1994, he has become the big boss of fuel oil supplience in Romania. His company, Unicom Holding, provides half of the Romanian necessary fuel oil, with a turnover of about $ 50 million in the previous year, which puts it into the top of private businesses in Romania.

A vast investigation of the Romanian Centre for Investigative Journalism (CRIJ) reveals that Iavorski brought beside him key-people from the Romanian energetic industry and from the intelligence service: Alexandru Orzata, ex-manager of Alro, Gavril Zoicas ex-intelligence officer, as well as Valeriu Velciu, Constantin Alexa; ex-managers in Conel Florin Stefan Vasilache Stanescu Ioan, George Prunaichie si Mihail Georgescu (director in Termoelectrica).

Eight years ago, the company Wirom Gas was created, as exclusive importer of the Russian gas to Romania, nobody else could take place in the business. A direct contract with the supplier, Gazprom, was out of question. The Industry ministry at the time, Radu Berceanu, said that it was a condition of Russian Gazprom.

During the last years, Wirom has supplied gas at about $ 120-140/1,000 cubic meters, with about 30% more expensive than in Western Europe. Strange is that even the colossus Gazprom owns 25% of Wirom. In other words, Gazprom sold the gaz to Wirom, and Wirom resold it at higher prices to Romanian energy producers.

The actual minister, Dan Ioan Popescu, promised two years ago that it will do a direct deal with Gazprom and he lately added that it took him two years to establish some direct contacts and founded a new company in this purpose: Gazexport. No comments on Wirom, will it still be supplier or is the game over?

Jointly shared by the Russian and the Romanian side, the name of Wirom shows the implication of some high-level public servants. The manager of Tax Authority in Bucharest, Doina Popescu, was appinted accountant of this company in previous years. Although she denies that she's still involved in Wirom, Popescu's position in the official data of the Registry of Commerce remained the same. Wirom was a very profitable company, with a turnover of over $ 52 million at the end of 2001, and a profit at about $ 1 million. There are no data available for 2002.

Mikhail Chorny is a major businessman in Bulgaria, with a bank and has telecommunication business in Bulgaria. Accused by money laundring, he was in 200o from stepping into Bulgaria's territory. However, on October 7 the ban was lifted by Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court. But recently, the Security Service of Bulgaria's Interior Ministry has issued a new ban for the controversial Chorny to enter the country.

Quoting the FBI, Interpole and the Israelite Police files, "Le monde" (27 November 2002) wrote about Mickail Chorny in the context of the Russian mafia crimes which concerned Israel" and explained Chorny's connection with mafia internationally searched by the police: one of his friend is under investigation in Diamond crimes (Lev Levaev), other were arrested (Viacheslav Ivankov, imprisoned in USA for 10 years, or Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, arrested in Italy).