Greece Extradites Fugitive Oligarch to Moldova

Plahotniuc, 59, denies immoderate wrongdoing successful the 2014-2015 “theft of the century” case, which saw a monolithic magnitude of wealth vanish from Moldovan banks. Public Domain

A Moldovan oligarch and erstwhile elder person has been extradited from Greece accused of engagement successful the theft of $1bn.

Vladimir Plahotniuc, 59, was flown from Athens to Chisinau connected Thursday greeting and past taken to a detention halfway successful Moldova’s capital, section officials said.

Plahotniuc has denied immoderate wrongdoing, saying allegations against him were based connected “slander and governmental hatred.” He is the main fishy successful transportation with the 2014 disappearance of $1 cardinal – a sum that past equaled astir 12 percent of Moldova’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Before fleeing Moldova successful 2019, helium was the person of the Democratic party, portion of the governing conjugation successful 2016-2019. He served arsenic lawman talker of parliament, a almighty presumption successful the government.

In 2023, the European Union imposed sanctions connected Plahotniuc and six others for actions that it said destabilized and undermined the territorial integrity of Moldova and Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia.

Greek constabulary said Plahotniuc has lived successful 22 countries since 2023. They arrested him astatine Athens airdrome aft helium boarded a level to Dubai, acting connected an Interpol announcement which states that helium held 16 passports, including from Romania, Mexico and Russia.

Russia, which says it wants Plahotniuc extradited determination to look drugs-related charges, denies interfering successful Moldova’s affairs.