CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) - A parliament committee created to investigate the disappearance of a leading opposition politician hired four psychics to try to locate the politician after a police search was fruitless, committee members said Saturday.
Vlad Cubreacov, a lawmaker for the pro-Western Popular Christian Democratic Party has been missing since March. His disappearance prompted authorities to order a massive search and to offer a reward of 455,000 Moldovan lei (dlrs 35,000) for information about his whereabouts.
Opposition officials have accused the police of not doing enough to find Cubreacov and criticized it for rejecting assistance from foreign countries such as Germany, which offered to help in the search.
Speaking to reporters after a committee meeting Saturday, the group's chair, independent lawmaker Mihai Plamadeala, said four psychics had been hired to help with the search.
"Usually the information received by paranormal methods is treated ironically, but we have to admit that sometimes it comes true," he said. "Unfortunately, the data offered by the four mediums was contradictory in this case."
Plamadeala also said the committee was pursuing several "promising leads" to find Cubreacov.
Cubreacov was one of the main leaders of anti-government protests that started in January when the government introduced Russian as a mandatory foreign language in Moldovan schools.
The government scrapped the language requirement, but demonstrations against what is seen as moves to bring the country closer to Russia continued until last month, when the government agreed to a package of democratic reforms. The promises include granting opposition parties air time on state television.
Moldova, a country of 4.5 million, is located between Romania and Ukraine. It was part of Romania until 1940, when it was annexed by the Soviet Union. The country became independent in 1991.