Prosecutor General's Office: Hearing on the extradition of Veaceslav Platon postponed
The Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Moldova announced that the hearing on the extradition of Veaceslav Platon from the United Kingdom has been postponed to May 11-15, 2026. This decision follows a request from his defense team, according to a response provided to Moldova 1 TV.
In an official communication, the institution states that “in September 2025, it was notified by the Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom regarding the procedural developments in the case concerning the extradition of Veaceslav Platon.” According to the same source, Platon's lawyers requested a postponement of the hearing, citing the need for additional time to prepare their defense. The correspondence indicates that “the competent British court reviewed the request and granted the lawyers’ request.”
Consequently, “the hearing regarding the extradition procedure has been rescheduled for May 11-15, 2026,” as stated in the Prosecutor's Office letter.
Additionally, the institution explains why this information was not made public earlier. The response highlights that, “according to the customs of international judicial cooperation and commitments regarding the confidentiality of procedures, details transmitted by foreign authorities can only be made public to the extent that they do not affect the conduct of pending trials and do not contravene the internal rules of the requesting state.”
The Prosecutor's Office specifies that it communicated this information only after confirming the new hearing date, “to ensure accurate and complete information while avoiding insinuations.”
In the Republic of Moldova, Veaceslav Platon is under investigation or facing prosecution in several criminal cases, accused of fraud and money laundering on a large scale. In 2016, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in the theft of a billion dollars. In 2020, the case was reviewed by prosecutors, and Platon was released from prison. Following his release, he left the country, was placed under international surveillance, and was later charged in another criminal case. Veaceslav Platon was detained in the UK in March of this year and subsequently released on bail. He maintains his innocence and claims to be a victim of political persecution. It is also noteworthy that Platon is included in Canada’s sanctions lists for actions aimed at destabilizing the Republic of Moldova—accusations he denies.
