Russia spent US$55 million to destabilise Moldova

Alexandru Musteata, Director of Moldova's Security and Intelligence Service (SIS), has said that Russia has spent 1 billion lei (US£55.2 million) on destabilising the situation in Moldova. Source: European Pravda with reference to NewsMaker Details: Security and Intelligence Service data points to a sabotage scenario with external intervention having been prepared and implemented in Moldova, starting in the second half of 2022, to bring about the overthrowing by force of the democratic government in Moldova and the seizure of political control by criminal groups subordinate to other countries.

Quote from Musteata: "The organisers of this scenario are affiliated with entities responsible for the development and implementation of political technologies in the Russian Federation, associated with the Russian presidential administration and Russian secret services.

The authors of this scenario on the territory of Moldova are members of an organised criminal group led by Ilan Sor." Details: The SIS director explained that Sor is making use of several political parties, including the Chance party, to destabilise the situation in Moldova.  Musteata added that Sor's criminal group is supported by another Moldovan oligarch, Vlad Plahotniuc.

Quote: "Working with other law enforcement agencies, we have uncovered a large-scale operation aimed at influencing the electoral process, particularly through the covert financing of the Chance party's election campaign. The amount exceeded 90 million lei (about US£90 million). It was confirmed that most of the money came from abroad, particularly from Russia."

Details: Musteata also said that during the election campaign, candidates from the Chance party pledged to implement several social and infrastructure projects in which, according to the SIS, Igal/Igor Shved, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, was involved. "The amount of funding reported to have been transferred by the 'sponsor', Igal Shved, is EUR1,032,737 and US£280,000. The investigation revealed that the money in Shved's accounts in Kazakhstan came from Russia from a Moldovan and Russian citizen, Viktor Gutsulyak, who is closely associated with Ilan Sor and one of the Russian oligarchs," Musteata said.

He said the SIS had prepared a detailed report on Russia's attempts to destabilise the situation in Moldova with the help of Sor's criminal group, which has been sent to the Central Election Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Centre and the General Prosecutor's Office.

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