Moldovan Prime Minister Steps Down

Moldovan Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici announces his resignation in Chisinau on June 12.

The prime minister of Moldova says he is stepping down after questions arose over his high-school and university degrees.

Chiril Gaburici announced his resignation on June 12, a day after prosecutors questioned him about his studies.

Gaburici said he regretted that questions about his studies had become "an instrument of political games."

He made no comment on the substance of the allegations.

Gaburici said he was a manager and not a politician, and that the country needed to change its political system.

Gaburici, a pro-European businessman, took over as prime minister in February.

Earlier this week, Gaburici called for the resignation of the state prosecutor and the head of the central bank for failure to act effectively over the disappearance of $1 billion from three Moldovan banks.

The former Soviet republic of 4 million holds local elections on June 14.

Moldova signed an Association Agreement with the European Union in 2014, angering Russia.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP