US business partner of Gareth Sheridan implicated in 2019 airline privatization scandal in Moldova
Gareth Sheridan, a presidential hopeful in Ireland, is set to hold a press conference in Dublin to address questions about his bid for the presidency. However, the spotlight has been shifted towards one of his business associates, Serguei Melnik, who is at the centre of a controversial Air Moldova privatisation deal.
According to reports, Melnik is a 25% shareholder in Civil Aviation Group, the company that took over Air Moldova in 2018 during its privatisation. This involvement links Melnik directly to the controversial Air Moldova privatisation deal.
Sheridan has publicly stated that he knows "very little" about Melnik's involvement in this deal and considers it "not an issue" for his political campaign. However, he has accused former Nutriband executive chairman Sean Gallagher and his circle of orchestrating a "coordinated attack" on his character, although this appears to be separate from the Air Moldova issue.
Regarding associates potentially involved in controversies related to Melnik, no direct evidence has emerged linking Sean Gallagher or others to the Air Moldova controversy. The controversy involves possible links to Russian oligarchs, with news reports suggesting possible connections between these individuals and the purchase of the airport in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau.
In addition to his Air Moldova link, Melnik has a history of fines with Sheridan relating to US Securities and Exchange Commission matters in 2018. Melnik has also held leadership roles indicated in an EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List, but these appear unrelated to the Air Moldova case.
The controversy surrounding the Air Moldova privatisation deal deepened when Igor Munteanu, chairman of an ad-hoc parliamentary committee in Moldova, revealed that part of the payment for the airline was transacted in cash. The Moldovan criminal assets recovery agency seized Air Moldova assets in 2019 as part of an investigation into alleged criminal activity, including money laundering.
In 2019, the Moldovan national anti-corruption centre seized assets of both Air Moldova and Civil Aviation Group. An Air Moldova Airbus A319 aircraft was also prevented from leaving Dublin Airport in 2021 following a seizure order by the High Court.
Efforts to contact Serguei Melnik were unsuccessful ahead of publication. No comment was provided by a spokesman for Gareth Sheridan at the time of going to print.
In summary, the potential involvement of Serguei Melnik in the Air Moldova privatisation controversy centres on his stake in Civil Aviation Group's acquisition of Air Moldova. However, no clear evidence has emerged implicating other associates in that controversy. The investigations continue, and the public awaits further developments in this complex case.
References:
- The Guardian
- Irish Times
- Bloomberg
- RTÉ News
- EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List
- The controversy surrounding Serguei Melnik's involvement in the Air Moldova privatisation deal extends to his role as a 25% shareholder in Civil Aviation Group, a company that took over Air Moldova in 2018.
- Beyond his Air Moldova link, Melnik has a history of fines in finance-related matters with Gareth Sheridan, notably with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018, and has held leadership roles in businesses flagged on the EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List, albeit unrelated to the Air Moldova case.
