Head of IGP: Moscow, through fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, will try to influence the parliamentary elections in the fall of this year
Moscow, through fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, will try to influence the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova this fall, said the head of the General Inspectorate of Police, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, in an interview for "Adevărul". According to him, Shor recently sent two buses with priests to Serbia under the pretext of pilgrimages.
,,Two weeks ago, if I'm not mistaken, two buses with priests left under the cultural-religious cover for Serbia, under the name of a pilgrimage. We know, and all these actions are documented. We cannot publicize all the details, but I confirm (ed.-scheme). The order to organize is also from Moscow, and the intermediary used in this process is Ilan Shor”.
Asked about the risk of destabilization around the parliamentary elections, in the context in which several Moldovans were trained by the Wagner group in special camps in various countries, including Russia, to cause destabilization in connection with the presidential elections and last year's referendum, the head of the IGP stated that "this risk must always be taken into account, and we must take all preventive actions because a relaxation would mean an increased danger for the security of the Republic of Moldova. In 2024, we had a series of challenges: from social or panic-creating to destabilization, arson”.
Also, Cernăuțeanu stated that there are risks regarding the influence of parliamentarians, but “it is important that state institutions strengthen themselves to act”.
In this context, we remind you that the 2024 elections held in the Republic of Moldova were marked by attempts of foreign influence and actions to corrupt voters, according to the findings of the authorities and international observers. Officials reported multiple cases of external involvement in the electoral process, including through disinformation campaigns and obscure financing, from the criminal group led by Ilan Șor, intended to favor certain candidates. Also, the authorities found that starting with September 2022, massive flows of illegal money have arrived from the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova. Initially, through smuggling or cryptocurrencies, and later, through a Russian bank under international sanctions. According to the latest data presented by the head of the IGP, over 300,000 Moldovan voters were allegedly the target of corruption attempts through various methods during last year's presidential elections and the pro-EU referendum.
