Moldovan law enforcement has exposed a plan that sends citizens to Russia for protest-related training‚ as reported on 10/17/24. The scheme is connected to Ilan Shor‚ a businessman with pro-Kremlin leanings.
Victor Furtuna‚ a prosecutor stated: “The anti-corruption prosecutors office is currently looking into several criminal cases related to the preparation of mass disturbance in the interests of the criminal community.“ The investigation shows that since June‚ groups of roughly 20 people have been regularly traveling to Russia for training; its estimated that about 300 individuals have taken part.
Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation‚ authorities are limited in the information they can share. However‚ they have revealed that the group responsible for organizing the training is linked to Ilan Shor a fugitive businessman.
Shor was sentenced to 15 years in prison (in absentia) last year. This sentence was connected to the disappearance of $1 billion from Moldovas banking system in 2014 - an incident referred to as the “theft of the century“
The authorities are treating this matter seriously‚ as it appears to be an attempt to create civil unrest within Moldova. The full extent of the scheme and its potential impact on the countryʼs stability is yet to be determined