Russia spends USD 55 million to destabilize Moldova

This is reported by European Pravda with reference to NewsMaker. 

Data from the Information and Security Service (SIS) show that a sabotage scenario of external intervention is being planned and implemented in Moldova, with the goal of overthrowing the democratic government by force and seizing political control by criminal groups subordinate to other countries, beginning in the second half of 2022.

"The organizers of this scenario are affiliated with the structures responsible for the development and implementation of political technologies in the Russian Federation, associated with the Russian presidential administration and Russian special services. The authors of this scenario in Moldova are members of an organized criminal group led by Ilan Shor," Alexandru Musteata said. 

The head of the SIS explained that Shor uses several political parties, including the Chance party, to destabilize the situation in Moldova.

He added that Shor's criminal group is supported by another Moldovan oligarch, Vlad Plahotniuc. 

"Together with other law enforcement agencies, we uncovered a large-scale operation aimed at influencing the electoral process. In particular, through the hidden financing of the Chance party's election campaign. This amount exceeded 90 million lei. It is confirmed that most of the money came from abroad, in particular, from Russia."

Musteata further stated that during the election campaign, politicians from the Chance party promised to construct various social and infrastructure projects, in which a Russian Federation and Israeli citizen, Igor Shved, engaged, according to the SIS.

"The amount of funding allegedly transferred by the 'sponsor', Igor Shved, is EUR 1,032,737 and USD 280,000. The investigation revealed that the money to Shved's accounts in Kazakhstan came from Russia from a citizen of Moldova and the Russian Federation, Viktor Gutsulyak, who is closely associated with Ilan Shorm and one of the Russian oligarchs," Musteata said.

According to him, the SIS developed a detailed dossier on Russia's efforts to destabilize the situation in Moldova via the Shora criminal gang, which was given to the Central Election Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Center, and the Prosecutor General's Office.