CNA seizes MDL 18M in Șor group illegal funding probe
The National Anti-corruption Center (CNA) has taken over the management of approximately 18 million lei (MDL) seized in the case concerning the illegal financing of a political party by the "Șor" group.
According to the institution, "the seized financial assets have been deposited into the CNA's treasury accounts, in accordance with legal procedures," and the remaining amounts confiscated in foreign currency will be administered as soon as the special accounts are opened.
The CNA reminds the public that the money was recovered from searches conducted two months ago in Chișinău as part of a broad investigation into a large-scale scheme for the illegal financing of political entities. The institution's press release specifies that the raids were carried out in the context of investigations into "the activity of a group of individuals suspected of participating in a coordinated criminal plan for the illegal financing of political parties in the run-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, 2025."
In total, over MDL 20 million was seized during the raids, along with electronic devices, draft records, and other evidence relevant to documenting the money flow.
The case is part of a broader series of investigations into the illegal funding of political parties ahead of the September 28, 2025, parliamentary elections. These elections are marked by repeated warnings about external interference and coordinated operations by the group led by Ilan Șor, the fugitive oligarch definitively sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Authorities have documented mechanisms of political influence attributed to the Russian Federation, including the financing of pro-Kremlin political formations, voter corruption, and logistical support aimed at destabilizing electoral processes and blocking the European course of the Republic of Moldova.
According to the authorities, the "Șor" Group, which was declared unconstitutional in 2023, allegedly continued to operate through satellite structures and straw persons, using money transfers originating from the Russian Federation, conversion into cryptocurrencies, and transactions through shell companies, all with the aim of illegally financing campaigns, remunerating activists, and influencing the electorate's orientation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
