Over 200 fugitives evade Moldovan justice in Transnistria with alleged Russian assistance
More than 200 individuals convicted or facing court orders in Moldova are currently hiding in the Transnistrian region. Minister of Internal Affairs Daniella Misail-Nichitin warns that constitutional authorities remain unable to enforce judicial decisions in the separatist territory.
The Minister emphasized that while residents on the left bank of the Dniester are Moldovan citizens entitled to equal rights, the lack of constitutional control makes law enforcement "extremely complicated." Police intervention is often restricted until specific travel bans are issued, creating a window for escape.
In several high-profile cases, the Minister noted that sentences are delivered in absentia. By the time law enforcement initiates a search warrant, convicts have already crossed into the uncontrolled territory to avoid imprisonment.
Allegations of Russian intelligence involvement
The Ministry of Internal Affairs identified a troubling pattern of external interference. Minister Misail-Nichitin stated that Russian special services have facilitated the extraction of certain fugitives, citing the case of former MP Alexandr Nesterovschi.
Reports indicate that Nesterovschi and fellow former MP Irina Lozovan, both linked to the "Sor" criminal group, fled to Transnistria just before receiving sentences of 12 and 6 years, respectively. Investigators believe employees of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau assisted in their escape.
High-profile fugitives in the "legal vacuum"
Several prominent figures remain beyond the reach of the law. Authorities suspect that Alexandru Pînzari, former Chief of the General Police Inspectorate, is hiding in the region following a three-year sentence.
Similarly, Dmitri Constantinov, former President of the Gagauz People's Assembly, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on December 26, 2025, but remains at large. The Transnistrian region continues to serve as a temporary or long-term sanctuary for those undermining Moldova’s legal system.
Recent captures and ongoing risks
Despite the challenges, some fugitives are eventually caught. Ion Perju, sentenced to 10 years for his role in the 2009 protests, hid in the region for years before his arrest in September 2025. He was discovered in Chisinau during a raid on the "Sor" network.
Former MP Constantin Țuțu, sentenced to eight years for fraud, also utilized the breakaway region as a hideout last autumn before eventually being transferred to Penitentiary No. 13. Chisinau authorities continue to factor these territorial vulnerabilities into all ongoing criminal proceedings.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
