Interim director of the “Joc” ensemble suspended from his post

Aliona Strâmbeanu was suspended from her post as interim director of the National Academic Folk Dance Ensemble “Joc”. The Ministry of Culture made this decision after several members of the ensemble went to the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg and danced there for the fugitive Ilan Shor. The ensemble issued a press release pointing out that “Joc” did not take part in this event and that the dancers in question were on leave on their own initiative during this time. The group of dancers demanded that the order suspending the director be lifted.

At the request of IPN, Liuba Lupashko, senior adviser at the Information and Media Service of the Ministry of Culture, said that after employees of the “Joc” ensemble participated with an artistic program at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, the Ministry of Culture initiated a procedure to check the work of “Joc”. A commission was created for this purpose. The Ministry of Culture also launched an internal investigation and Aliona Strâmbeanu was suspended from her post for this period.

In connection with the participation of the “Joc” dancers in the event in St. Petersburg, criticism was expressed in public, and the issue was also raised in the plenary session of the parliament. The ensemble issued a press release in which it stated that the institution had not received a request to send members of the ensemble or the entire ensemble to an artistic performance in the Russian Federation, and that the four dancers concerned were on leave on their own initiative.

“We respectfully ask you not to spoil the image and name of the National Academic Folk Dance Ensemble “Joc” and not to misinterpret information that has not been confirmed by the official leadership of the ensemble. The institution reserves the right to take legal action in case of dissemination of unfounded allegations about the participation of the National Academic Folk Dance Ensemble “Joc” in the said event,” the press release continues.

On Saturday, the ensemble’s employees published a petition with signatures demanding the lifting of the order suspending the interim director. The same was demanded by the Party of European Socialists, which expressed its indignation at the decision of the Ministry of Culture, declaring that it was an unfair and unfounded measure. In this context, the PSDE demanded the immediate resignation of Minister Sergiu Prodan.