Russia's global influence: Oligarchs and dirty money
Russia is collaborating with corrupt businesspeople who are fleeing justice to expand its political influence beyond its borders, according to Roman Dobrokhotov, head of the investigative publication The Insider.
This is a mutually beneficial partnership, as Moscow offers protection and refuge in exchange for political support, Dobrokhotov told Moldova 1, the public television broadcaster, in a live interview.
The secret visits of oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc to Moscow over the past year and his meetings with representatives of the Russian presidential administration, revealed by The Insider, are part of a broader Kremlin strategy where oligarchs facing criminal charges become useful political tools, Dobrokhotov explained.
"Plahotniuc is not just a fugitive businessman; he's the mastermind behind one of the biggest corruption schemes of recent decades – the so-called 'Moldovan Laundromat,'" he added.
According to The Insider's head, Russia has adopted a strategy to export its political influence, including through the manipulation of electoral processes, and the Republic of Moldova is only one example.
"We are conducting a series of investigations into how Russia interferes in the politics of other states. In the case of the Republic of Moldova, we see how oligarchs like Plahotniuc are politically utilized. He helps pro-Russian forces with dirty money, and Russia avoids using its own budget, which is currently directed towards the war effort," Roman Dobrokhotov revealed on Moldova 1.
It's worth noting that oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, who was detained a week ago in Greece, allegedly visited Moscow regularly on a false passport, according to copies of documents obtained by The Insider.
The publication also consulted telephone intercepts, which reportedly demonstrate that the Deputy Chief of the Kremlin Presidential Administration, Dmitry Kozak, was negotiating with Plahotniuc as early as June 2024, hoping to secure his support before the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova. His last visit to Moscow was in April 2025.
It is worth mentioning that after fleeing the Republic of Moldova in June 2019, oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc and former Democratic MP Constantin Țuțu were apprehended at Athens Airport on July 22, 2025, while attempting to board a flight to Dubai. Both Plahotniuc and Țuțu are currently held in Greece's largest prison and have 40-day pre-trial detention warrants.
Vladimir Plahotniuc has officially agreed to be extradited to the Republic of Moldova. His consent was conveyed to the Greek authorities on Tuesday, July 29, in a letter from his Greek lawyer.
According to experts, the request for his extradition to the Republic of Moldova could shorten the timeframe for Plahotniuc to appear before Moldovan courts.
In the Republic of Moldova, Plahotniuc is under investigation in four criminal cases, including for forming an organized crime group, large-scale money laundering, fraud, and involvement in the "bank fraud" of 2013-2015.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
