Moldovan business magnate Vladimir Plahotniuc, detained in Greece on a warrant linked to a $1 billion fraud case, landed Thursday in Moldova’s capital Chisinau after being extradited from Greece, ahead high-stake elections.
The parliamentary elections on Sept. 28 will decide whether the country, which lies between EU-member Romania and Ukraine will align with either the EU or Russia.
President Maia Sandu has accused Russia of funding disinformation campaigns and warned of threats to the country’s independence.
NewsMaker.md Thursday broadcast live from Chisinau, showing how people in dark uniforms led a man in a white shirt and dark cap, believed to be Mr. Plahotniuc, with his hands tied behind his back, out of the plane and placed him in a car.
His arrival comes as the ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) faces a stiff challenge from a political bloc led by former President Igor Dodon, who has kept close close links to Moscow.
PAS is fighting to keep its majority amid voter frustration with tough economic measures and endemic corruption.
The former lawmaker who is considered one of Moldova’s richest men, is a chief suspect in Moldova’s so-called “theft of the century”_ the disappearance of $1 billion from the Moldovan banking system in 2013. At the time, that was worth 12% of the country’s GDP.
Mr. Plahotniuc who has fought the charges for years is expected to make his first appearance at a Chisinau court on September 26. In a comment on Facebook, Plahotniuc’s lawyer, Lucian Rogac, claimed that the arrest took place “in violation of national and international law” and transformed “into a senseless, immoral and illegal televised public trial.
The fugitive was arrested on July 21 at the Athens airport after boarding a plane to Dubai. Greek police acted on an Interpol notice issued in February which states that he held 16 passports, including from Romania, Mexico and Russia.
