CNA conducts new Chisinau searches over illicit campaign funding by a political party
On Friday, September 19, officers from the National Anticorruption Center (CNA), in collaboration with prosecutors from the Chisinau Municipal Prosecutor's Office, are conducting searches in Chisinau related to a case involving money laundering, electoral corruption, and illegal political financing.
According to the CNA, an investigation is currently targeting a group of individuals accused of engaging in disinformation and public opinion manipulation activities for payment at the request of a political party.
The group allegedly employed various tactics to influence voter perceptions, including rigged polls, the distribution of misleading messages, and the recruitment of paid individuals from undisclosed sources to gather information on electoral preferences.
The investigation documents actions taken in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, 2025. During this time, supporters and voters were reportedly promised money, goods, or services in exchange for voting in a particular way and supporting a specific political party.
The CNA has identified monetary transactions among group members and has noted actions related to the transfer of funds.
The individuals involved will be investigated while at liberty, and law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigations.
We remind you that one person was detained for 72 hours, and several sums of money, mobile phones, laptops, bank documents and draft documents were seized following the 46 searches carried out on Thursday, September 18, by officers of the National Investigation Inspectorate (INI), PCCOCS prosecutors and “Fulger” masked men.
And on September 17, the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) and the Balti Municipal Prosecutor’s Office carried out over 70 searches throughout the territory of the Republic of Moldova, including in the capital. The actions also targeted a criminal case regarding the alleged illegal financing of political parties, under aggravating circumstances.
According to the CNA, there are reasonable indications that a group of people developed a coordinated criminal plan during the pre-election period, prior to the parliamentary elections on September 28.
Investigators are targeting both individuals with leadership positions affiliated with political parties, as well as members and supporters, suspected of having created a scheme to introduce illegally obtained money into the country, intended for the unauthorized support of electoral competitors, law enforcement officials reported.
At the same time, during other searches, carried out on September 16, law enforcement officials confiscated 20 million lei, money intended for the illegal financing of parties and the corruption of voters.
Since the beginning of the electoral campaign, law enforcement officials have carried out over 200 searches and detained dozens of people who were allegedly involved in illegal financing of parties and vote buying.
The CNA reminds citizens that they can report cases of electoral corruption or illegal financing to the Hotline (+373 78 710 116), available 24/24, including through the Viber, Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp applications, or to the National Anticorruption Line – 0800 55555, a free call within the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
