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☆ Second Man Jailed in Moldova's 'Fraud of the Century'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Alexander TanasCHISINAU (Reuters) - A Moldovan court jailed a banker for 10 years on Monday, the second man to be sentenced in connection with the ex-Soviet state's "fraud of the century" in which $1 billion was removed from the banking system and taken out of the country. The country's anti-corruption prosecutor announced the sentence handed down on Viorel Birca in connection with the 2014-2015 fraud on charges of mass fraud and "acting in the interests of a criminal group". Moldova's Constitutional Court subsequently outlawed a political party bearing his name. The fraud case continues to reverberate in Moldova's politics a decade after the events. Moldova's parliament last month dismissed central bank chief Octavian Armasu for failing to act to recover the money lost in the scandal.

Persons: Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, Birca, Ilan Shor, Shor, Maia Sandu's, Vlad Plahotniuc, Octavian Armasu, Alexander Tanas, Ron Popeski, Stephen Coates Organizations: Moldovan, Journalists, Prosecutors, Banca de Economii, Birca Locations: Soviet, Moldova, Israel, Northern Cyprus

☆ Moldovan president's allies score well in local polls
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sandu warned before the election that pro-Russian forces in the country, particularly fugitive business magnate Ilan Shor, had funnelled money into Moldova to "buy" voters. Shor's allies were barred from running two days before the first round and he complained from exile in Israel that the ruling had cost him electoral success. An independent won in Comrat, a town in the south where one of Shor's allies had won a regional vote earlier this year. Ion Ceban, running under a party he founded, was re-elected mayor of the capital Chisinau in the first round, though the president's supporters suggest he may hold pro-Russian sympathies. Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Editing by Ron Popeski and Will DunhamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maia Sandu, ZAK BENNETT, Maia Sandu's, Sandu, Ilan Shor, Shor's, Ion Ceban, Igor Grosu, Shor, Arina Korsicova, Alexander Tanas, Ron Popeski, Will Dunham Organizations: USAID, Democracy, Ford Foundation Center, Social Justice, 78th United Nations General, Rights, Sunday, European Union, Sandu's Party of Action, Solidarity, Socialist Party, PAS, Constitutional, The Organization, Security, Cooperation, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights CHISINAU, Moldova, Russian, Ukraine, Romania, Israel, Moldova's, Balti, Russia, Comrat, Calaras, Chisinau, Europe

☆ Fugitive Moldovan Businessmen Returns to Israeli Base, Interpol Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Fugitive pro-Russian Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor, accused of "buying" voters to sway an election in the ex-Soviet state, has returned to his exile base in Israel, an Interpol official said on Sunday. Tentiu had earlier said that Shor left Israel on Nov. 6. Moldovan officials accused Shor of channelling the equivalent of 50 million euros ($53.5 million) into Moldova for "buying" voters. Tentiu said all Interpol member-states had been asked to report if he was on their territory. Russia dismisses Sandu's allegations and accuses her of waging an anti-Russian campaign and infusing an anti-Russian atmosphere in Moldova.

Persons: Ilan Shor, Viorel Tentiu, Shor, Tentiu, Maia Sandu's, Sandu, Alexander Tanas, Ron Popeski, Grant McCool Organizations: Interpol, Moldovan, Constitutional Court, European Union, Moldova Locations: CHISINAU, Russian Moldovan, Soviet, Israel, Moldova, Ben Gurion, Ukraine, Moscow, Romania, Russia

☆ Fugitive Moldovan businessmen returns to Israeli base, Interpol says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CHISINAU, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Fugitive pro-Russian Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor, accused of "buying" voters to sway an election in the ex-Soviet state, has returned to his exile base in Israel, an Interpol official said on Sunday. Tentiu had earlier said that Shor left Israel on Nov. 6. Moldovan officials accused Shor of channelling the equivalent of 50 million euros ($53.5 million) into Moldova for "buying" voters. Tentiu said all Interpol member-states had been asked to report if he was on their territory. Russia dismisses Sandu's allegations and accuses her of waging an anti-Russian campaign and infusing an anti-Russian atmosphere in Moldova.

Persons: Ilan Shor, Viorel Tentiu, Shor, Tentiu, Maia Sandu's, Sandu, Alexander Tanas, Ron Popeski, Grant McCool Organizations: Interpol, Moldovan, Constitutional Court, European Union, Moldova, Thomson Locations: CHISINAU, Russian Moldovan, Soviet, Israel, Moldova, Ben Gurion, Ukraine, Moscow, Romania, Russia

☆ Pro-Europe party of Moldova's president wins local elections, sees setbacks in big cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ZAK BENNETT/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCHISINAU, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The party of Moldova's pro-European president came first in hundreds of weekend local elections but was unable to win mayoral seats in the biggest cities, including the capital Chisinau, according to preliminary results on Monday. Sandu's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won more than 40% of the votes cast for mayors, city councillors and district and village councils nationwide. It won mayoral seats in the first round of voting in 240 of 898 villages, towns and cities. Those victories were mostly in rural areas and its candidates did not win control of the big cities. A pro-Russian political party linked to Shor was barred on security grounds from taking part in the elections.

Persons: Maia Sandu, ZAK BENNETT, Maia Sandu's, Ion Cebal, Lilian Carp, Ilan Shor, Sandu, Shor, Andrei Spinu, Tom Balmforth, Gareth Jones Organizations: USAID, Democracy, Ford Foundation Center, Social Justice, 78th United Nations General, Rights, of Action, Solidarity, PAS, funnelling, European Union, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights CHISINAU, Chisinau, Moscow, Balti, Cahul, Orhei, Russia, Russian, Moldova, Soviet, Romania, Ukraine

☆ Moldova holds local elections amid Russian meddling allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] People walk past election campaign posters ahead of snap parliamentary election, scheduled on July 11, in Chisinau, Moldova July 7, 2021. Pro-European President Maia Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of plotting to oust her in a coup. "Thanks to your vote, Moldova has a chance to become a member of the European family. The national security service has accused Shor of helping funnel 1 billion Moldovan lei ($55.60 million) into Moldova to stage anti-government protests during the war in Ukraine and to "buy" voters. Shor said he was sending the money to Moldova to help pensioners, finance social infrastructure projects and some politicians.

Persons: Vladislav Culiomza, Maia Sandu, Ilan Shor, Shor, Ion Ceban, Lilian Carp, Sandu, Yuliia Dysa, Tom Balmforth, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, funneling, of Action, Solidarity, PAS, Russian, Moldovan, Constitutional, Chance Party, Thomson Locations: Chisinau, Moldova, Rights CHISINAU, Moscow, Soviet, Ukraine, Russia

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovans are casting ballots in nationwide local elections on Sunday as authorities say that Russia has been conducting “hybrid warfare” to undermine the vote in the European Union candidate country. While local elections in Moldova, a country of about 2.5 million people situated between Romania and Ukraine, wouldn't usually garner much international attention, ongoing accusations of Russian meddling add a geopolitical dimension to the vote. On Friday, Moldova’s national intelligence agency published a report alleging that Russia was trying to “influence the electoral process” through the party. Shor was the head of the Russia-friendly Shor Party, which was declared unconstitutional in June by Moldova’s Constitutional Court. “Russia has always been trying to undermine democratic elections in Moldova, particularly in an effort to derail European integration aspirations,” Cantir said.

Persons: wouldn't, Dorin Recean, Recean, Ilan Shor, Shor, Maia Sandu, Anatol Mosanu, ”, Cristian Cantir, Cantir, oligarch, Vladimir Plahotniuc, Plahotniuc, Sandu, Moldova’s, ” Cantir, “, they’ve, ” ___ Stephen McGrath Organizations: European Union, Moldova, Russia Chance Party, Intelligence, Security Service, SIS, Chance Party, Oakland University, Associated Press, EU, NATO, Party, Moldova’s Constitutional, Russia Locations: CHISINAU, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, Moldovan, Sunday's, Israel, ” “ Moldova, United States, United Kingdom, Moscow, Sighisoara

☆ Moldovan president says Russia's Wagner head plotted coup against her -FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Moldova's President Maia Sandu addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. "Russia is going to increase its pressure on Moldova," Sandu told the FT. "They tried energy and they failed. Moldovans, she said, were entering the country with "bank cards that were issued in Dubai...they just distribute thousands of cards ...bank cards to people they wanted to bribe." Moldovan police on Friday said they had seized thousands of bank cards issued in Dubai due to be given to Shor's allies. "This is using bank cards instead of suitcases or black bags full of cash," Veronica Dragalin, head of Moldova's Anti-corruption prosecutors, told reporters.

Persons: Maia Sandu, Eduardo Munoz, Russia's Wagner, Sandu, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Ilan Shor, Shor, Veronica Dragalin, Ron Popeski, Alexander Tanas, Josie Kao Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Financial Times, EU, Kremlin, Constitutional, PAS, Moldovan, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Spain, Moscow, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Russia, Russian, Transdniestria, Moldova's, Dubai ., Dubai, Chisinau

☆ Restive Moldovan Region Finally Approves Executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Alexander TanasCHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova's restive Gagauzia region, locked in an uneasy relationship for 30 years with central authorities in Moldova, endorsed the composition of its local executive committee on Wednesday, a key decision for national institutions. The Executive Committee was elected on the seventh attempt -- after new Bashkan Yevgeniya Gutul withdrew nominations for deputies approved by Shor. "I intend to work constructively with you," Gutul said after the executive line-up was approved. As part of her election campaign, Gutul pledged to open a diplomatic mission for Gagauzia in Moscow. Sandu has delayed including Gutul in Moldova's government -- as required by Moldova's constitution -- pending the outcome of investigations into her election with Shor's backing.

Persons: Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, Maia Sandu, Ilan Shor, Yevgeniya Gutul, Shor, Gutul, Sandu, Sandu's, Ron Popeski, Sandra Maler Organizations: Constitutional Locations: Moldova, Gagauzia, Russia, Moscow, Moldova's, Israel, Ukraine, Chisinau, Transdniestria, Russian

☆ New leader of Moldovan region thanks exiled patron, backs ties with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CHISINAU, July 19 (Reuters) - The new leader of Moldova's region of Gagauzia expressed gratitude at her inauguration on Wednesday to a wealthy magnate jailed in absentia for fraud and stood by her calls for closer ties with Russia. The region's 140,000 residents have had an uneasy relationship with Moldovan authorities in three decades of independence from Soviet rule. Gutul pledged to uphold good ties with Turkey and Russia, as well as with Moldova's neighbours, Ukraine and Romania. In the election campaign, contested by a slate of pro-Russian candidates, she pledged to build closer ties with Russia and open a diplomatic mission in Moscow. Reporting by Alexander Tanas in Chisinau; Editing by Ron Popeski and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gagauzia, Maia Sandu, Yevgeniya, Ilan Shor, Shor, Ilan, Gutul, Shor's, Sandu's, Alexander Tanas, Ron Popeski, Grant McCool Organizations: European Union, Moldovan, Moldova's Constitutional, Sandu's PAS, Thomson Locations: CHISINAU, Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Israel, Gagauzia, Chisinau, Turkey, Romania, Moscow, Transdniestria, Russian

☆ Moldova bans pro-Russian Shor party after months of protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Marina Tauber, leader of the opposition pro-Russian political party Shor, delivers a speech during a hearing of the Constitutional Court in Chisinau, Moldova, June 19, 2023. REUTERS/Vladislav CuliomzaSummary Constitutional Court bans pro-Russian Shor partyShor lawmakers can remain in parliament as independentsPresident Maia Sandu welcomes court's decisionCHISINAU, June 19 (Reuters) - Moldova's Constitutional Court on Monday banned the pro-Russian Shor party that has led months of protests and is headed by an exiled businessman accused by the West and the government of trying to destabilise the country. Shor has denied the protests are part of a Russian threat or of attempts to destabilise Moldova. Parliamentary speaker Igor Grosu said the court's decision was "an important victory for Moldovan democracy". Opposition Socialist Party leader Igor Dodon said Sandu's governing Action and Solidarity Party had "officially become totalitarian, destroying opposition forces" and that it would eventually suffer the same fate as the Shor party.

Persons: Marina Tauber, Shor, Vladislav Culiomza, Maia Sandu, Ilan Shor, Nicolae Rosca, Sandu, Igor Grosu, Igor Dodon, Alexander Tanas, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Heritage, Mark Heinrich, Ed Osmond Organizations: Constitutional, REUTERS, West, European Union, EU, Moldovan, Opposition Socialist Party, Solidarity Party had, Thomson Locations: Russian, Chisinau, Moldova, CHISINAU, Israel, United States, Soviet, Russia, Moldova's, Transdniestria

☆ Pro-government rally in Moldovan capital draws tens of thousands
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] People wave flags of European Union and Moldova during a rally to support the European path of the country, in Chisinau, Moldova May 21, 2023. President Maia Sandu has accused Russia of seeking to sabotage its European integration by fuelling anti-government protests and propaganda. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, on a visit to Chisinau, also addressed the rally, saying Europe would welcome Moldova "with open arms and open hearts". "This is about the both of us: You will bring a piece of Moldova to Europe, and you will make Europe stronger," she said. "I believe in a European Moldova and want for my country a future with advanced economic and socio-political development," said 18-year-old attendee Alexandrina Miron.

☆ Meta allowed a Kremlin-linked oligarch to run Facebook ads calling for uprisings against pro-Western government in Moldova
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta allowed a Moldovan oligarch, sanctioned by the US, to run paid Facebook ads, per AP. Meta removed the ads, but only after they reached an audience of millions. The paid Facebook ads featured oligarch Ilan Shor, who now lives in Israel after being convicted of massive financial fraud. In one ad, Shor, who heads the pro-Russia Shor Party, can be heard accusing Sandu's government of corruption. Moldova was rocked by mass protests late last year, which were organized by the Shor Party, the largest of which took place shortly after the ads were placed.

☆ Russia denounces Moldova's ban of TV channels as 'political censorship'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Summary This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Russia on Saturday denounced a decision by neighbouring Moldova to temporarily ban six television channels as "political censorship". The small ex-Soviet state of Moldova accused the channels of airing "incorrect information" about the country and Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Shor, in exile in Israel, has backed protests in Chisinau demanding that Sandu's government resign. The ban will start on Monday and last for the duration of a state of emergency that Moldova declared after Russia sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 on what Moscow calls a "special military operation" to "denazify" the country. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thousands in new Moldova anti-government protest
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

About 7,000 demonstrators decried steep price increases, particularly for gas bought from Russia. Demonstrators converged on Chisinau's central square in four columns but police kept them well away from the parliament and the president's residence. Three smaller parties, including Moldova's Communists, joined in the protest for the first time. Gazprom has already cut October supplies by 30% and insists Moldova settle outstanding debts totalling $709 million. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterEditing by Ron Popeski and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Oligarhii din Georgia, Moldova și Ucraina: între retragere, regrupare și „reeducare”. Analiză de Dionis Cenușa
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-18 | by ( ) www.ipn.md time to read: +14 min

Oligarhii din Georgia, Moldova și Ucraina: între retragere, regrupare și „reeducare”. Analiză de Dionis CenușaOp-EdOligarhii continuă să fie actori politici activi în Georgia, Moldova și Ucraina. Oricât de imperfecte ar fi instituțiile democratice din Georgia, Moldova și Ucraina, condițiile existente încă permit turnuri de situații favorabile pentru democratizarea domeniului politic. În loc de concluzii...Oligarhii continuă să fie actori politici activi în Georgia, Moldova și Ucraina. Dionis Cenușa, Columnist principal Dionis Cenușa, Columnist principalDomenii de cercetare: Politica Europeană de Vecinătate, relațiile UE-Moldova, politica externă a UE și Rusia, migrația și securitatea energetică.

Persons: Dionis, ., . Aceștia, Maia Sandu, Președintelui Sandu ., Președintele Sandu, Președintele, Petro, Petro Pororeșenko, Viktor Medvedchuk, Nika Melia, Mikhail Saakashvili, Vlad Filat, Vlad Plahotniuc, Ilan Șhor, Sandu, Renato, Kolomoysky, Zelensky, Liebig Organizations: Uniunii Europene, Parlamentul European, UE, Partidul Mișcarea Națională Unită, BBC, Partidului Socialiștilor, Partidul Comuniștilor, Președintele Zelensky, Securitate, Universitatea Justus Locations: Georgia, Moldova, Ucraina, Petro, Rusiei, Ucraina Georgia Moldova Ucraina, UE, Turcia, Israel, SUA, Rusia, Giessen

☆ Proces penal clasat în cazul maşinilor de lux cu numere de înmatriculare diplomatice, folosite de Ilan Șor la Moscova
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-29 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +2 min

Într-un răspuns la o solicitare de informație a portalului Anticoruptie.md, Procuratura Anticorupție a precizat că procesul penal a fost clasat, pentru că „fapta nu întrunește elementele infracțiunii”. Procurorii au refuzat să ofere informații despre persoanele vizate în cauza penală, invocând datele cu caracter personal. Deşi doi ofiţeri ai Centrului Naţional Anticorupţie au mers la Moscova pentru a efectua investigaţii, cazul nu a fost elucidat. Oamenii legii au trimis Poliţiei din Federaţia Rusă o interpelare prin care au cerut să fie informaţi cine a solicitat numere diplomatice. Numerele de înmatriculare diplomatice ar fi fost eliberate pe durata mandatului de ambasador al lui Andrei Neguța, în prezent reținut în dosarul anabolizantelor.

Persons: Procurorii, Ilan Shor, Adrian, Andrei Neguța Organizations: Bentley, BMW, Mercedes, Skoda Locations: Procuratura Anticorupție, Moscova, Chişinău, Federaţia Rusă, Ruse

☆ SCJ refuses to move case of Shor from Cahul Appeals Court
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-12 | by ( ) www.ipn.md time to read: 1 min

SCJ refuses to move case of Shor from Cahul Appeals CourtThe Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) rejected the request of Ilan Shor’s lawyers to transfer the conviction case against the former president of the Administration Board of Banca de Economii from the Cahul Appeals Court to another appeals court as unfounded. The decision is irrevocable, IPN repo...

Persons: SCJ, Shor, Ilan Shor’s Organizations: Justice, Administration, Banca de Economii Locations: Cahul

☆ EXCLUSIVE/ Investigation: Lucinschi’s mass-media financed with the money from Savings Bank of Moldova. The prosecutors confirmed the existence of a criminal file.
▼ + stars: | 2012-11-28 | by ( ) moldova24.info time to read: +6 min

Today.md optained several documents and information which demonstrate that Chiril Lucinschi’s mass-media company was financed with money from the Savings Bank of Moldova. Mostly, Ilan Sor at Vlad Filat’s order withdrawn $ 440,000 from the banking system and transferred the money into Lucinschi’s company bank accounts. Sor only took the money from Russians for Chiril meanwhile covering the loans with money from Savings Bank of Moldova, Social Bank and UNIBANK. loan, given by REGIONALINAYA FINANSOVAYA COMPANYA OAO (bank accounts at GAZPROMBANK), to the stockholder at Savings Bank of Moldova (loan that helped at increasing capital). More than that RISE investigation demonstrated that Chiril Lucinschi is the direct beneficiary, although he tried to hide himself behind intermediary persons.

Persons: Today.md, Ilan Sor, Vlad Filat’s, Natalia Morari’s, HEZBURG, Petru Lucinschi, Money, Natalia’s, UNIBANK, Ilan Shor’s, Sor, ALEXANDRU, Banca Sociala, Veaceslav, Veaceslav Platon, Vlad Filat, REGIONALINAYA FINANSOVAYA, Lucinschi, Morari, Platon, Radu Gutu, Chiril Lucinschi, Chiril, Viorel Morari, SBM, Igor Cijov Organizations: Savings Bank of Moldova, –, TOM, ABVL BANK, AS PRIVATBANK, Project Agency, Verwaltungs, UND, Social Bank, MOLDCLASSICA INTERNATIONAL, CONTRADE, Russian Federation, TV7, TNT, Banca, Social Bank ., Chiril, UNIBANK, CHESTER NZ, Bank, SBM, TNT BRAVO, ANALITIC MEDIA, BRAVO TV LLC, BRAVO, Agency, ION RUSU Locations: Netherlands, Moldavian, Lucinschi, Moldindconbank, GAZPROMBANK, Republic of Moldova

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