Interpol accepted the request to put Vladimir Plahotniuc on the international wanted list
The Interpol Files Control Commission has informed the International Police Cooperation Directorate of the General Police Inspectorate (IGP) that it has accepted a request to add a former political party leader to the international wanted list. The IGP announced this on its social media accounts. Although the statement did not mention the former politician's name, Veronica Dragalin, the head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, confirmed in a phone interview with Moldova 1 TV that it refers to Vladimir Plahotniuc. Plahotniuc's lawyer, Lucian Rogac, also confirmed this information and stated that he would challenge the decision to get a new ruling that would overturn the Interpol search for Vladimir Plahotniuc.
Veronica Dragalin, head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, announced that the Moldovan International Cooperation Directorate informed the institution about Interpol's decision to review a 2020 ruling that had blocked the notification in the case of Vladimir Plahotniuc.
"This individual will now be listed as wanted through Interpol by countries worldwide that are part of the Interpol network. Consequently, all 196 member countries will be made aware of the arrest warrant for this citizen of the Republic of Moldova. Countries that adhere to the Interpol constitution must arrest him and notify the Republic of Moldova immediately," emphasized Veronica Dragalin.
In a statement to Moldova 1, Lucian Rogac, the lawyer for the former Democratic leader, claimed he has clear evidence that Interpol's decision is based on fake information provided by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova. He stated that he would request a review of the decision.
We remind you that Vladimir Plahotniuc fled the Republic of Moldova in the summer of 2019, following the Democratic Party of Moldova's loss of power. That same year, the Chisinau authorities sought his prosecution through Interpol, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued for him on charges such as creating and leading a criminal organization, fraud, and money laundering. According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Plahotniuc allegedly benefited from more than 39 million dollars and 3.5 million euros that were stolen from Banca de Economii, Unibank, and Banca Socială. Additionally, in December 2022, the British authorities imposed sanctions on Plahotniuc and Ilan Șor, both implicated in the "Bank Fraud" case. In the past, the two were also included on the United States sanctions list for their involvement in systemic corruption and for influencing electoral processes in favor of Russia.
