A prominent Moldovan oligarch and former senior politician, Vladimir Plahotniuc, has been extradited from Greece to Moldova. He faces accusations in connection with a massive $1 billion fraud, local officials confirmed. Plahotniuc, aged 59, was transported from Athens to Chisinau on Thursday morning and subsequently taken to a detention facility in the Moldovan capital. The tycoon, who is subject to multiple ongoing criminal investigations in Moldova, has consistently maintained his innocence and has pledged to clear his name.
This extradition occurs just days before Moldova’s crucial parliamentary elections scheduled for Sunday. President Maia Sandu has voiced concerns that the nation’s independence and its European trajectory are at risk due to alleged Russian interference, including efforts to incite violence and spread disinformation.
Plahotniuc reportedly left Moldova in 2019 following the ousting of his Democratic Party from power. Upon arrival at Chisinau airport on Thursday, he was observed being escorted by Moldovan police and Interpol officials. He was then transferred to a vehicle and driven away.
In a statement on social media, President Sandu remarked on the development, stating, “If you don’t give up when it’s hard and keep fighting – the whole society keeps fighting – even criminals who seemed invincible come to justice.”
Plahotniuc’s lawyer, Lucian Rogac, criticized the pro-EU government led by President Sandu, accusing them of transforming his client’s extradition into a “tasteless political spectacle” timed for the significant elections. Rogac also asserted that his client’s “fundamental rights” were infringed during the extradition process, which commenced on July 22 with his arrest at Athens airport following a request from Moldova.
The oligarch is considered a primary suspect in the notorious “theft of the century,” involving the disappearance of $1 billion from three Moldovan banks in 2014. At the time, this sum represented over 10% of Moldova’s gross domestic product.
The extradition takes place as Moldova, an impoverished nation situated between Romania and Ukraine, prepares for elections that will shape its geopolitical alignment, determining whether it continues its integration with the European Union or shifts back towards Russian influence. Earlier in the week, President Sandu accused Moscow of funneling substantial funds into Moldova to fuel violence and misinformation campaigns.
The BBC’s recent investigation uncovered evidence of a network linked to Moscow and the fugitive Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor, which is allegedly engaged in spreading disinformation. An undercover reporter found individuals being paid to disseminate fabricated content online, aimed at undermining the ruling party before the election. These posts have garnered millions of views, while Shor has not responded to requests for comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the UN General Assembly, emphasized the critical importance of Moldova’s European path, drawing parallels to Georgia and Belarus, and warning against losing Moldova to Russian influence. He asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, would continue to expand the conflict if not effectively countered.
Meanwhile, pro-Russian political factions in Moldova have accused President Sandu of intimidation tactics to influence the election outcome, while also criticizing her government for not adequately addressing corruption. Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service has also alleged that European nations are planning to falsify the election results to incite protests, even claiming that the EU intends to deploy troops to Moldova.
Moldova gained independence following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, yet retains a significant Russian-speaking population. The self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria, supported by Moscow, continues to host Russian military forces.