DISINFO: USAID will sue several Moldovan mayors
SUMMARY
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will sue several local town halls because that money offered to equip the libraries with computers in the frame of “Novateca” project has disappeared. According to reliable sources of the Independent.md portal, this was the decision of the review team, located in Moldova. They verified how the project, financed by the tycoon Bill Gates, was implemented. Sources say that the district of Comrat recorded the biggest losses: only some computers out of more than one thousand sent from the US were received there.
RESPONSE
No evidence provided. USAID's representation in the Republic of Moldova denied to Stopfals.md the information that it was planning to initiate legal proceedings against the mayors. USAID representatives commented:
"The Novateca program, implemented with the support of USAID, has improved the services and resources of hundreds of libraries in Moldova, thus turning them into real community and information centers, which have become vital for the given localities. During this program, USAID has established a successful partnership with local public authorities. Contrary to some news, USAID does not plan to initiate legal proceedings against any of the local public authorities,
Regarding the "team of reviewers, located in Moldova to verify the way the Novateca project was implemented", USAID Moldova states that:
We have not evaluated any library. No audit activities were conducted, nor were there any violations. At present, there is a team of evaluators / researchers, who gather information on our programs in the field of democracy and good governance. The team will complete its activity next week. This is not a team of auditors / reviewers. The purpose of the activity of the given team is to study and research.
USAID provides assistance to strengthen Moldova’s democratic governance and economic growth. It helps Moldova implement lasting democratic and economic reforms that will improve living standards for all Moldovans. Further debunking by Stopfals.md.