Moldova Interior Minister warns of Transnistrian safe haven for high-profile convicts
Moldova’s Interior Minister, Daniella Misail-Nichitin, has identified the breakaway Transnistrian region as a primary obstacle to justice. The lack of constitutional control over the territory allows high-profile convicts to evade imprisonment systematically.
Speaking on TVR Moldova, the Minister emphasized that the absence of immediate judicial restrictions often leaves police powerless. Without court-ordered travel bans, suspects in high-stakes cases can move freely before a final verdict is reached.
The Ministry is now pushing for a streamlined communication system. The goal is to trigger immediate border alerts the moment a conviction is handed down, preventing escapes through the region’s porous administrative line.
"While official border crossings are strictly monitored, the Transnistrian sector remains outside our effective control," Misail-Nichitin stated. She dismissed Tiraspol’s occasional offers of police cooperation, noting such matters must be handled through high-level diplomatic channels.
The Ministry insists on the withdrawal of Russian Federation troops as a prerequisite for regional security. Currently, Chisinau relies on the Unified Control Commission and reintegration working groups to manage the volatile security landscape.
Several high-profile figures are currently believed to be hiding in the separatist region. Among them are Alexandru Pînzari, former police chief sentenced for payroll fraud, and Dmitri Constantinov, former Gagauz official handed a 12-year sentence in late 2025.
Last spring, former MPs Alexandr Nesterovschi and Irina Lozovan also fled to the left bank. Evidence suggests they were assisted by employees of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau shortly before receiving sentences for illegal party financing.
In a rare success, former officer Ion Perju was apprehended in September 2025 after a decade-long hunt. Despite hiding in Transnistria for years, he was caught in Chisinau while coordinating crypto-to-cash schemes for the sanctioned "Shor" network.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
