Vladimir Plahotniuc, a former Moldovan oligarch and politician, has been extradited from Greece to Moldova, where he faces accusations related to a $1 billion theft from Moldovan banks in 2014. Plahotniuc, 59, was transferred from Athens to Chisinau on Thursday morning and subsequently taken to a detention center. He has maintained his innocence and asserts he will prove it.
This extradition arrives just days before Moldova’s parliamentary elections, raising questions about the timing and potential political implications. President Maia Sandu has expressed concerns regarding external influences, notably from Russia, which she claims aims to destabilize Moldova through disinformation and violence.
Plahotniuc fled Moldova in 2019 following the defeat of his Democratic Party. His arrival back in the country was marked by an escort from Moldovan police and Interpol. Sandu noted on social media that persistent efforts against crime can lead to justice, but Plahotniuc’s lawyer, Lucian Rogac, criticized the government, claiming it has transformed the extradition into a political event and argued that Plahotniuc’s rights were infringed during the process.
The case against Plahotniuc is part of a larger context involving the so-called “theft of the century,” where $1 billion disappeared from three banks, amounting to over 10% of Moldova’s GDP at that time. As Moldova prepares for elections, tensions remain high regarding its future alignment with the European Union versus influence from Russia.
In recent statements, Sandu accused Moscow of attempting to intervene in Moldovan affairs by financially supporting political factions that may create unrest. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also spoken out, emphasizing the importance of preventing Russian influence from deepening in Moldova after similar situations in Georgia and Belarus. Meanwhile, pro-Russian parties in Moldova have critiqued Sandu’s government for alleged intimidation tactics and insufficient efforts in combating corruption.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyldynzg48o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss