Ernest Vardanian: I understand now that I made a horrible mistake

Ernest Vardanian, citizen of Pridnestrovie, arrested by security service of Pridnestrovie on suspicion of treason against the State, spoke on TV PMR (First Pridnestrovian television channel).

The TV-program was arranged by press-service of Ministry of State Security of Pridnestrovie and was demonstrated on TV on May 11, 2010.

On his own initiative Vardanian appealed to the authority body of Pridnestrovian Security Ministry and asked to meet with representatives of Media to expand on the topic of his criminal case:

- In 1997 I entered Moldavian State University located in Chisinau to study political and administrative sciences. In 2002 I graduated from the university and got the diploma of politologist. In the May of 2001 when I was a 4-year student I was recruited by Nikolay Botizatu, the officer of Moldova’s Information and Security Service (ISS RM). This is how it happened. Several months before, a man appeared in the university. He wanted to talk to me. His name was Nikolay and he said that he was a field officer of Information and Security Service of Moldova. He said that we could meet to talk about politics, about political situation in Pridnestrovie and he started getting at the idea to continue our “friendship”. At that moment I was studying on a budgetary basis in the Chisinau University. Thus, they made me understand that if I wanted to graduate from the university without having any problems, I had to continue to meet Nikolay and talk to him.

On 24 April 2001 when I came to meet Nikolay, officer of ISS of RM, I found Nikolay with a man who introduced himself as Ivan Georgievich. As I understood it later, he was the officer of Moldova’s secret service and representative of Republic of Moldova in the United Control Commission - Ivan Georgievich Liakhu. So, Mr. Liakhu also wanted to know something about the situation on Pridnestrovie. He wanted to hear my opinion about the territorial integrity of Republic of Moldova. Mr. Liakhu told me that Pridnestrovie’s existence is evil for Pridnestrovian people and he started convincing me that I had to help Nikolay and to be their agent.

In the May of 2001 when Nikolay Botezatu ordered me to meet with him again, we met in a café in the center of Chisinau. We entered a secret cabinet where there was one more man. The table was set. The man introduced himself. His name is Viacheslav Nikolaevich. He also wanted to know my opinion about the situation in Pridnestrovie and about Pridnestrovie on the whole. He started convincing me that it was necessary to work with Information and Security Service of Moldova. He emphasized the fact that I was a student and that I needed to graduate from the university. He also noted that my fiancée Irina was also a student. Thus, they made me understand that my studies and my future wife’s studying and even our destiny depended on my collaboration/not collaboration with ISS of Moldova. Finally, taking into account threats to my family, I agreed to work with them. I understand now that I made a horrible mistake.

When I told Viacheslav Nikolaevich that I agreed, he immediately took a piece of paper and said that I had to write that I agree to collaborate with Information and Security Service of Moldova and choose a pseudonym. Since then, my collaboration with ISS of RM became systematic. The officer of secret Moldovan service Nikolay Botezatu demanded that I should provide information about Pridnestrovie, about Pridnestrovie’s internal policy. He demanded that I had to meet with Pridnestrovian officials. Sometimes I just used credulity of the officials to get some information. I transfered the information I could get to Nikolay Botezatu because I always remembered that threats weighed upon me. At the same time I understood that my actions could bring harm to Pridnestrovie’s interests. That’s why I wasn’t really zealous in giving important information. I was doing that unwillingly. I provided Nikolay Botezatu with unsystematic superficial information because I understood that I could bring harm to Pridnestrovie. That’s why I always tried to minimize that harm.

In autumn 2002 when I met Nikolay Botezatu again, there was one more new person to me with him. The man appeared to be Botezatu’s boss. He presented himself as Gennadiy Valentinovich. He demanded that I had to help them, to provide them with information and reminded that I’d signed the letter of commitment and I had to continue my way.

It always preyed on my mind, because I understood what I was doing, but unfortunately the circumstances forced me to continue helping them.

Nikolay Botezatu used me as journalist. By the nature of my work I used to meet representatives of foreign embassies and international organizations accredited in Chisinau. Botezatu was always interested in the things that foreign countries were going to do speaking about the negotiation process on Pridnestrovie. He wanted to know whether this or that state was ready to press Pridnestrovie, or to be loyal to Moldova.

Year by year this collaboration with Information and Security Service of Moldova was becoming more and more burdening, because I worked for them under protest. They threatened me and I had to go that way.

From this point of view, 2009 became a really positive year for me. The thing is that I managed to come through a very difficult selection to get vacancy in the UNO secretariat in New-York. I was included to the list of successful candidates. It means that from that moment I was waiting for the invitation to get the vacancy. The event was really important to me. It is not only about self-fulfillment and perspectives for my family. I hoped that I could stop working for ISS of Moldova. However, a new feature of the case developed. When I informed Nikolay Botezatu about the news he declared that I would not manage to stop my collaboration with them. Moreover, he said that when in New-York I would have to continue my work against other countries, first of all against Russian Federation.

I was absolutely shocked. I didn’t have plans other than just work and live in New-York. I was not going to work in UNO against any state, especially against Russia. I understood then that the situation was becoming more and more serious. I was thinking how to find the way out of the situation, but, unfortunately I was arrested. Ministry of State Security of Pridnestrovie inculpated my activities. Now I understand that it happened because Information and Security Service of Moldova didn’t take into account the question of my security. They just pushed me out to the minefield. I was left to myself.

Once I was thinking about my talk with Mr. Botezatu. He confessed that mess prevailed in the security services of Moldova. There are different fractions there, no unity, no strategic line. He said that people get work in the Information and Security Service of Moldova not because of their competence but on the principle of loyalty and private fidelity. Today I understand that all these factors together with their slapdash attitude to me led to my arrest. They were not interested in me because I am a person. They needed me just because of the information, I was like cannon fodder for them.

I can only say that I really do feel for the people who are in the same situation as I am if they have to study in Chisinau or come to Chisinau very often because of their work. All these people can come into view of Information and Security Service of the Republic of Moldova with all that it implies.

Everyone who studies in Chisinau like I did, or those who come often to Chisinau can find themselves in the same situation. I would only feel for these people.

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