Copyright euroweeklynews
THE COUNTRY of Greece has extradited former politician and businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc, facing charges of a more than $1 billion (more than €856,500,000) embezzlement in 2014 from three different banks of Moldova just days before the country faces a highly politically charged election. The jaw-dropping sum of money had equated to roughly 12 per cent of Moldova’s GDP in 2014. Plahotniuc, now 59 years old, was the leader of the Democratic party in the Moldovan government, serving as deputy speaker of parliament between the years 2016-2019. He was known as a figure of great influence and sway in the Moldovan political sphere. Back in 2019, the tycoon fled Moldova when the Democratic party was voted out of power, and according to Greek officials, he has lived in 22 different countries since 2023. The mogul was arrested at the Athens airport after he had boarded a plane to Dubai, and according to an Interpol notice, Plahotniuc holds 16 passports, including from Romania, Mexico and Russia. The EU imposed sanctions on a group of people, including Plahotniuc, in 2023 on the grounds that they had destabilised and undermined the integrity of Moldova as well as Ukraine. In August of this year, a Greek court had ruled in favour of the extradition of Plahotniuc, calling it the “theft of the century.” Plahotniuc, on the other hand, denies all charges and states that the accusations were politically motivated. Plahotniuc was extradited to Chisinau, Moldova on the morning of Thursday, September 25, according to a Greek legal source. Moldova parliamentary elections will take place on Sunday, September 28, amidst political chaos for the country caused by accusations of attempts by Russia to interfere and incite violence, as well as spreading misinformation.
