Veronica Dragalin says Vladimir Plahotniuc conviction reflects years of hard work
The conviction of Vladimir Plahotniuc demonstrates that the truth can prevail and the law can be enforced despite numerous challenges. Veronica Dragalin, the former head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (PA), commented on this development in a Facebook post. She stated that it is the result of years of hard work, courage, and perseverance from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, as well as from all those who contributed to this outcome.
According to Veronica Dragalin, who led the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office from August 2022 to February 2025, the conviction of Vladimir Plahotniuc "is not just about one person – it is a message that no one is above the law."
In her statement, Dragalin reflected, "I had the honor of leading this institution and working alongside dedicated, professional prosecutors and officers who believed in their mission even in the most complicated moments. I know from the inside how much work, pressure, and determination are behind such a result."
The former head of the Prosecutor's Office, who announced her resignation on February 19, 2025, criticized the vetting procedure and the initiative to merge the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office with the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases. She expressed her gratitude to her former colleagues for their dedication and perseverance.
On April 22, 2026, the Chisinau Court in Buiucani found former deputy Vladimir Plahotniuc guilty of leading a criminal organization, committing two counts of fraud, and two counts of money laundering—crimes carried out using his official position and in particularly large proportions.
This criminal case was separated from a larger investigation known as "Bank Fraud." Prosecutors accused Plahotniuc of facilitating the entry of oligarch Ilan Shor into the ownership of several banks to fraudulently access large loans. According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, between 2013 and 2015, Plahotniuc allegedly obtained a total of $39.2 million and €3.5 million from Banca de Economii, Unibank, and Banca Socială.
The court ordered Plahotniuc to pay damages caused by the crime. He will also need to pay $18.7 million and €1.6 million in interest to the Ministry of Finance, as well as cover the costs of his extradition from Greece in September 2025, estimated at 96,800 lei.
To ensure the execution of the civil action, the court ordered the seizure of the former politician's assets, which total over one billion lei.
Plahotniuc's lawyers announced plans to appeal the sentence, claiming that the entire trial was conducted with serious violations and deviations from fundamental rights and guarantees, and that these irregularities would be reflected in the verdict. Anti-corruption prosecutors, who had requested a 25-year prison sentence for the former politician, stated they are reviewing the sentence to decide whether to appeal to the Court of Appeal within the stipulated 15-day period.
