Anastasia Taburceanu has explained how she joined the state-owned air traffic management company MoldATSA without a public competition after public scrutiny over her salary and recruitment process intensified.
In comments to BANI.MD, Taburceanu said MoldATSA representatives approached her because the company was looking for a communications specialist.
“Someone from MoldATSA contacted me because they were searching for a communications specialist. I tried to find someone interested in the position and asked among my contacts, but I could not find anyone who was looking for a job at the time. After several discussions, I accepted the position,” Taburceanu said.
The issue drew public attention following a RISE Moldova investigation, which reported that Taburceanu received more than 1 million lei from MoldATSA in 2026, equivalent to roughly 120,000 lei per month.
According to the investigation, Taburceanu joined the enterprise in early June 2025. During her first year at MoldATSA, she earned more than 500,000 lei, averaging over 75,000 lei per month. In 2026, her total remuneration exceeded 1 million lei.
RISE Moldova also reported that Taburceanu previously served as spokesperson for former Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita and is a cousin of President Maia Sandu. The publication noted that the disclosure of her salary prompted public questions about both the hiring procedure and the level of compensation granted at the strategically important state-owned enterprise.