Over 8.1 million lei confiscated by the state: activist from Drochia sentenced in case tied to Șor-funded protests
The president of the Drochia territorial office of the former political party "Șor," which was declared unconstitutional and dissolved in 2023, has been convicted of complicity in knowingly accepting financing from an organized criminal group. The judges have ordered the confiscation of over 8.1 million lei for the benefit of the state.
The sentence was issued by the Chișinău Court based in Buiucani, and can be appealed at the Centru Court of Appeal within 15 days.
According to the investigation, between July and October 2022, the defendant, who served as the president of the Drochia territorial organization of the former "Șor" party, allegedly coordinated the party's activities while knowing it was financed by an organized criminal group.
"During this period, in collaboration with the party leadership—including the vice presidents, the treasurer, and couriers responsible for transporting funds—the defendant reportedly contributed to the acceptance of illicit financing by providing indications, information, and resources to support party activities aimed at transporting and compensating individuals participating in protests organized by the party" reads a press release from the Prosecutor General's Office.
The court sentenced the defendant to five years in prison, with the sentence suspended for a three-year probation period. He was also stripped of the right to engage in administration and financial management of political parties for five years.
Additionally, the magistrates ordered the confiscation of 8,145,419 lei for the benefit of the state. This amount was allocated for "promoting the party's political interests and obtaining power through illegal means," according to the cited source.
To date, several territorial leaders associated with the fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor have been sentenced for their roles in the illegal financing of the party and for undermining security and stability in the Republic of Moldova, including through paid protests and other activities.
In March, the leader of the Ocnița territorial office was definitively sentenced to four years in prison. The Central Court of Appeal rejected the defense's appeals as unfounded and upheld the original conviction in full.
Also in March, the appeals court confirmed four-year prison sentences for the leaders of the former "Șor" party from Dondușeni and Fălești, who were sentenced in September 2025. In the case of the former leader from Dondușeni, the court ordered the confiscation of over 1.5 million lei, and he was arrested in the courtroom. The other defendant from Fălești was tried, and the judges ordered the confiscation of approximately 1 million lei from his account.
Furthermore, the former vice president of the Râșcani territorial office in Chișinău was sentenced to four years in prison. This sentence was pronounced on March 6 by the Chișinău Court in Buiucani. The case involving the president of the Hâncești territorial office of the former "Șor" Party was sent to court on March 19.
