Igor Gorgan

Igor Gorgan
Gorgan in 2016
Chief of the General Staff
In office
1 July 2019 – 14 September 2021
PresidentIgor Dodon
Maia Sandu
Preceded byIgor Cutie
Succeeded byEduard Ohladciuc
In office
19 August 2013 – 18 March 2016
PresidentNicolae Timofti
Preceded byVitalie Stoian
Succeeded byIgor Cutie
Personal details
Born (1969-08-02) 2 August 1969 (age 55)
Dubăsari, Moldovan SSR, Soviet Union
SpouseLt. Col. Inga Gorgan
Children2
Alma materFree International University of Moldova
Occupationmilitary
Military service
Branch/service Moldovan Ground Forces
Years of service1987-Present
RankBrigadier General

Igor Gorgan (born 2 August 1969) is a Moldovan military officer who served as the Chief of the General Staff of Moldova.[1]

Biography

He was born on 2 August 1969 in Dubăsari. At the age of 18, he joined the Soviet Army, immediately attending the Combined Arms Higher Military School in Novosibirsk until 1991. Upon graduation, he immediately took up a position in an airborne division in Bolgrad, Ukraine. From 1992 to 1995, he was the commander of a guard company in the Ștefan cel Mare 2nd Motorized Infantry Brigade. From 2001 to 2002, he was a student at the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Beginning in 2003, he took part in NATO-led international missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Iraq. After he returned to Moldova in 2006, he became an official in the training directorate. In 2013, he was appointed by President Timofti to the post of Chief of National Army General Staff. His dismissal would be the result of an ongoing feud with Defence Minister Anatol Șalaru.[2] Upon his dismissal, he became an aide to defense ministers Eugen Sturza and Anatol Șalaru. From 2018 to 2019, he was Chief of Strategic Studies at the Alexandru cel Bun Military Academy. On 1 July 2019, days after the national constitutional crisis and the appointment of the Sandu Cabinet, he was made the Chief of the General Staff by President Igor Dodon, replacing Igor Cutie.[3][4] Dodon presented Gorgan to the commander's office of the National Army on 8 July.[5][6]

According to Russian media,[7] Igor Gorgan was recruited by the Russian GRU and served as an informant from 2004 to 2024. Despite officially not working for the Defense Ministry, he had multiple officers reporting to him and was very active after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Gorgan was stripped of his rank and medals after news of his spying came out.[8] He was charged with treason by Moldovan authorities on 19 September 2024.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Președintele Republicii Moldova l-a prezentat pe noul șef al Marelui Stat Major". Interlic. 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  2. ^ Popșoi, Mihai (28 March 2016). "Moldova's Chief of General Staff Dismissed After Long Feud With Defense Minister". Eurasia Daily Monitor. 13 (60).
  3. ^ "Brigadier General Igor Gorgan: Chief of National Army General Staff, Commander of the National Army". Ministry of Defense of Republic of Moldova. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Generalul Igor Gorgan revine la conducerea armatei R.Moldova". Radio Europa Liberă Moldova. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  5. ^ "The President of the Republic of Moldova presented the new Chief of Staff". Presidency of the Republic of Moldova. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  6. ^ http://a-tv.md/eng/index.php?newsid=62738 [dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Молдавский связной. Начальник генштаба Молдовы сливал секретную информацию своим кураторам из ГРУ". The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  8. ^ https://www.politico.eu/article/moldovan-general-accused-of-treason-over-russian-spy-allegations/
  9. ^ "Moldova's ex-military chief charged with treason over alleged espionage for Russia". The Kyiv Independent. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.