Moldova exposes Russian electoral corruption scheme
A new form of illegal electoral financing and corruption, managed from the Russian Federation through an app called "Taito," has been documented by police.
Citizens of the Republic of Moldova are promised tens of thousands of lei per month to participate in illegal activities, but they never actually receive the money. Law enforcement urges citizens not to access the app or provide their personal data.
Moldovan police report that the "Taito" app is being used to deliver propaganda lessons in the context of the parliamentary elections on September 28. Registered individuals are expected to participate in protests, electoral corruption schemes, and support a specific electoral candidate.
The chat app is accessed via Telegram. According to police, upon registration, individuals are required to submit photos of their personal documents, their phone numbers, and a video of their face for authentication. Subsequently, each person consents to the processing of their personal data to create a personal profile.
Each locality has its own chat, where members receive information and instructions from coordinators. People are promised sums ranging from 15,000 to 50,000 lei per month, converted into Russian rubles and received through online PSB bank accounts.
Law enforcement also reports that representatives of the criminal organization draw up a fictitious contract with users, which includes supposed financial penalties for failing to complete assigned tasks. The real purpose of this contract is to avoid paying the promised money.
Maia Sandu, following a meeting of the Supreme Security Council, said Russia plans to rig the autumn elections with €100 million in cryptocurrencies and paid protests.
The General Police Inspectorate reminds the public that electoral corruption is punishable by 2 to 6 years in prison, a fine of 37,500 to 57,500 lei, and a ban on holding certain public offices or engaging in certain activities for up to five years.
If the crime is committed in the interest of a criminal organization, the penalty is 8 to 15 years of imprisonment.
In late June, police announced that the Șor group was using new methods to influence the results of the elections in the Republic of Moldova. Specifically, the network affiliated with the fugitive convicted politician is using the "Taito" app, installed on phones, to transmit information and instructions to activists.
A scheme for voter corruption, funded with money from Russia: The PCCOCS is investigating a network with connections to the "Șor" criminal organization.
President Maia Sandu similarly urged the public on July 30, after the Supreme Security Council meeting, not to provide personal data to criminal groups, because "the sanctions will also apply to you, not just to those who organize these acts of corruption."
Among the mechanisms used are "courier networks," "micro-lending for hidden financing," transfers through accounts opened at Promsvyazbank (PSB), and "money laundering schemes to corrupt the electoral process."
"We know that micro-loans are being opened in Russian banks in the names of thousands of Moldovan citizens, contracted in their absence. You could find yourself with debts to Russian banks that you don't even know about," the head of state warned.
It is worth recalling that law enforcement authorities reported that in last autumn's elections, Russia transferred tens of millions of dollars to the Republic of Moldova to influence the results of the presidential election and the referendum on European integration. According to the General Police Inspectorate, over 138,000 Moldovans opened accounts at the Russian bank PSB. The amounts paid to citizens to vote as instructed varied from a few hundred to a few thousand lei.
Law enforcement has issued about 25,000 fines totaling nearly 15 million lei.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
