VIDEO | MAN discovers state vulnerabilities and holds the Prosecutor's Office accountable. Gaik Vartanean invokes the data of 750.000 citizens and wants the electoral systems verified

The National Alternative Movement (MAN) party is asking the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate an alleged cyberattack that compromised the personal data of approximately 750.000 citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The party led by Ion Ceban wants investigators to determine whether unauthorized persons had access to the computer systems involved in the electoral processes, although it does not present evidence that they were affected. MAN deputy Gaik Vartanean accuses state institutions of negligence and demands political accountability, as well as a hearing in Parliament of those responsible for data security. The announcement was made during a press conference.

According to Gaik Vartanean, between October 19 and 23, for five consecutive days, confidential information about citizens was allegedly stolen, including identification data, information about family members, pensions, properties, and bank accounts.

The MP claims that the incident could have been prevented if the responsible institutions had checked the security of the IT systems in advance. He recalled the previous hearings organized in Parliament on the topic of telephone scams, when representatives of state institutions presented reports and promised protective measures.

"It is a serious failure of state institutions. In the summer of this year, a special commission on telephone scams was held in Parliament. Representatives of the institutions responsible for citizens' data came, presented reports and made promises. Since then, they were supposed to check all the IT systems, identify the problems and solve them. They did not do it. Now we see the consequences. It is a proof of carelessness, for which the country's leadership must assume political responsibility", said Gaik Vartanean.

In addition to investigating the alleged data leak, MAN is calling for expanded checks on the IT systems used in the electoral processes. Vartanean says prosecutors must determine whether they were accessed illegally, as well as who could be responsible for compromising the information.

"We will ask the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate whether there was illegal access to the state's IT systems and whether systems related to electoral processes were affected. People need to know who compromised their data and why the state did not protect them. Those guilty must be held accountable before the law. The state is obliged to protect citizens' data, and when it does not do so, the country's leadership must assume political responsibility.", the deputy emphasized.

At the same time, MAN MPs intend to request a hearing from the leadership of the institutions responsible for personal data security. The party wants explanations about how it was possible to extract information for five days, the number of people affected, and possible institutional responsibilities.

While waiting for answers from prosecutors and clarification of the circumstances of the incident, Vartanean recommends that citizens be vigilant against fraud attempts.

The MP urges them not to communicate passwords, access codes or banking information over the phone and to verify suspicious calls directly through the institutions' official channels.