Journalist Bogdan Chirieac resigns after reports of business ownership

Evenimentul Zilei printed a report accusing journalist Bogdan Chirieac of writing an article where he was criticizing a competitor of the company he holds shares in while he subtly promoted the products of the company he held interest. According to the report, Chirieac acquired a stake of 34 percent in the Radio Telecommunication Services Center (CSR) which signed contracts worth EUR 26 million by distributing Tetra (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) telecommunication equipments produced by the American group Motorola. Chirieac was criticizing the national borders security contract signed by European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS) consortium with the Romanian Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform.
“The value of the contract was established at EUR 1 billion, for which the Romanians will get nothing. The projected telecommunication technology is not standardized by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the price is absurdly high. EADS knew better,” said Chirieac in his article published in Gandul and quoted by Evenimentul Zilei in order to explain the “hidden advertising” accusations brought to him.
Following the article published in Gandul, the accusations brought by Evenimentul Zilei and the recently resignation of Chirieac, Cristian Tudor Popescu, director at Gandul said that Chirieac's resigning decision was necessary both for the newspaper and the Romanian media, mentioning all journalists with Gandul will submit financial statements. These will include detailed statements of every involvement in businesses with private companies or state.

Magda Purice