The Public Property Agency and Chișinău International Airport have completed the inventory process and on Thursday, January 29, signed with Lukoil Moldova the documents restoring the situation to its 2005 status regarding the airport’s oil complex. As a result, the assets held by Lukoil on the premises of Chișinău Airport have returned to state ownership, following the decision of the Council for the Review of Investments of Importance for State Security (CEIISS) on December 15, 2025.

At the same meeting, CEIISS prohibited Lukoil from operating in sectors of strategic interest for state security with existing beneficiaries and founders and ordered a return to the situation prior to the privatization of the airport oil complex in 2005. Lukoil was required to hand over the assets by January 9. As the company did not comply, on January 16 the Council imposed a fine of 5 million lei, which was paid earlier this week.

According to the Council’s decision of January 16, Lukoil’s operations in sectors strategic to state security were suspended, and a deadline for asset handover was set for January 28.

Following the international sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), on November 12 a free loan agreement (comodate contract) was concluded between the Airport and Lukoil, transferring management of the assets to the Airport until the handover process was completed.

It is noted that the screening procedure for investments of importance for state security by Lukoil-Moldova SRL was initiated in May 2024, prior to the imposition of OFAC international sanctions.

Regarding the operation of fuel stations in the Republic of Moldova, they are expected to be taken over by the U.S. investment fund Carlyle Group. It should be noted that, in accordance with Moldovan legislation, the new shareholder must request investment approval, and CEIISS must issue a decision on this matter.