EU Extends Sanctions on Pro-Russia Actors in Moldova
On today's date, the European Council resolved to extend restrictive measures targeting individuals responsible for actions that undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova.
This extension will remain in effect until April 29, 2025. The list includes eleven individuals and one entity. Among them are the fugitive oligarchs Ilan Shor and Vladimir Plahotniuc, as well as Arina Corșicova.
The listed individuals are prohibited from generating or accessing financial resources made available to them, through either direct or indirect means. Additionally, they are barred from entering or transiting the territories of member states of the European Union. Furthermore, their assets will be frozen.
In its conclusions reached on March 21-22, 2024, the European Council reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to providing the Republic of Moldova with all relevant support. This assistance is intended to address the challenges the country faces in the wake of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The European Council also aims to strengthen Moldova's resilience, security, and stability in the face of destabilizing activities undertaken by Russia and its proxies.
The EU's restrictive measures were first introduced in April 2023 at the request of the Republic of Moldova. These measures target individuals responsible for supporting or implementing actions that undermine or threaten Moldova's sovereignty, independence, democracy, rule of law, stability, or security.
The sanctioned individuals are politicians and businesspeople with Moldovan or Russian citizenship who have been engaged in destabilizing activities. Some of these individuals are linked to the "bank fraud" case, which resulted in significant losses for the Moldovan budget. Others are associated with orchestrated efforts by the Kremlin to destabilize Moldova, employing tactics such as planning violent demonstrations, financial misappropriation, unauthorized capital exports, and providing support for projects of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
The initial list included five individuals: Ilan Shor, leader of the former Shor Party; Member of Parliament Marina Tauber; fugitive businessman and former politician Vlad Plahotniuc; Gheorghe Cavcaliuc, leader of the PACE Party; and Russian businessman Igor Ciaika, considered a close associate of former President and Socialist Party leader Igor Dodon.
At that time, the European Union Ambassador to Chișinău, Jānis Mažeiks, indicated that the list of sanctioned individuals could be further extended if concrete evidence were to emerge regarding individuals or entities undermining Moldovan democracy and sovereignty.
On December 14, 2023, the European Council agreed to open accession negotiations with the Republic of Moldova, following the country's designation as a candidate country on June 23, 2022.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
