Moldovan authorities have seized over $1 million from a new Moscow-backed political grouping in the country, calling the funds "illegal political financing."
On Tuesday, more than 20 million Moldovan lei (about $1 million) was confiscated from about 150 Moldovans, most of whom were at Chisinau airport. Police described the money as being part of a "scheme of illegal financing of political parties from dark sources."
Leaders of the new pro-Russian electoral bloc dubbed "Victory" said on Tuesday that they were harassed and deliberately delayed at the airport on their return to Moldova from a trip to Moscow.
Russian troops are stationed in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria and the country shares a border with Ukraine. It was part of the Soviet Union prior to 1991.
Tensions have been rising between Russia and Moldova throughout the war in Ukraine, which was triggered by an invasion by Vladimir Putin's forces in 2022. Moldovan President Maia Sandu alleged in February 2023 that Russia, with the help of individuals posing as anti-government protesters, was seeking to overthrow her government and stop her country from joining the European Union.
Ilan Shor, a U.S.-sanctioned fugitive oligarch, announced the creation of "Victory" during a meeting in Moscow over the weekend. It is opposed to Sandu's plans to join the EU.
Earlier, Shor said that EU membership would be "destructive for our citizens and for the country," Moldovan news outlet newsmaker.md reported.
"Our task is to show people alternatives that have worked over time," he said.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based think tank, said in its latest analysis of the conflict in Ukraine on Tuesday that opposition politicians in Moldova likely intended to use the seized funds "to bribe protestors and voters."
"ISW previously assessed that the creation of the Victory electoral bloc would allow the Kremlin to focus on a unified political effort as part of its efforts to destabilize Moldovan society, attack Moldova's democratic government, and prevent Moldova's accession to the European Union (EU)," the think tank said.
Sandu, who has regularly denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said last July that she would ask for help from Romania, a member of NATO, should Moscow ever attempt to attack her country.
"We are concerned. We accept the most pessimistic scenarios," she said. "Accordingly, we are preparing for all scenarios. And in a situation where Russia tries to attack the Republic of Moldova, obviously, we will ask for help."
Newsweek has reached out to Russia's foreign ministry for comment by email.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
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