Moldova says Russia spent millions of dollars to overthrow government
- 4 November, 04:27
Russia has spent over $55.45 million to destabilize Moldova, head of Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service Alexandru Musteata said on Friday.
Addressing a press conference, Musteata said Russia has already spent $5 million on voter bribery and illegal financing of the Chance political party, Moldovan news agency Newsmaker reported.
Musteata said “sabotage scenario” with external intervention has been prepared in Moldova since the middle of 2022 with an intention to replace Moldova’s democratic government with “criminal groups” affiliated with other countries.
Musteata accused Russia of carrying out a large-scale operation jointly with other law enforcement agencies, with the aim of derailing the electoral process. The security chief further said that the coup d’état was planned by individuals in Russia and by members of an “organized criminal group led by Ilhan Shor”.
Musteața explained that Ilan Sor is making use of several political parties, including the Chance party, to destabilise the situation in the country. The official further added that Șor’s criminal group is supported by another Moldovan oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc.
Shor is a Moldovan businessman and politician who headed the pro-Russian Shor political party before fleeing to Israel in 2019. A Moldovan court sentenced him in absentia to 15 years in prison for fraud and money laundering in April 2023. The Moldovan government has repeatedly accused him of trying to destabilize the country.
Earlier this week, Moldova’s pro-European President Maia Sandu said Russia had been funneling money into the country to buy votes ahead of upcoming elections. Elected in 2020, Sandu has been strongly criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
