Moldovan police have revealed a massive vote-buying scheme allegedly orchestrated by convicted oligarch Ilan Șor, involving $39 million in transfers to influence recent elections, RFE/RL’s Moldovan Service reports.
The referendum was held alongside the presidential election, where incumbent Maia Sandu won 42.5% of the vote—short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff—and will face pro-Moscow ex-Prosecutor-General Alexandr Stoianoglo in a decisive runoff on 3 November.
Police chief Viorel Cernăuțeanu told a news conference in Chișinău on 25 October that investigators uncovered approximately 1 million bank transfers to Moldovan citizens’ accounts through Russia’s Promsvyazbank (PSB) during September and October.
According to Cernăuțeanu, about 500 people have been fined for “passive electoral corruption.” The investigation found PSB, currently under international sanctions for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, transferred $15 million in September and an additional $24 million in October.
The scheme allegedly targeted both the European Union integration referendum and the first round of presidential elections held on 20 October. President Maia Sandu claimed that “criminal groups” attempted to buy up to 300,000 votes.
Cernăuțeanu stated that investigators identified 138,000 Moldovan citizens who received the transfers, though the actual number of recipients may be higher as some funds were redistributed among multiple individuals.
The police investigation revealed that money transfers began as early as April, with funds arriving either through PSB or via couriers making direct payments.
Moldova’s national Șor, also a Russian and Israeli citizen, was sentenced in absentia by a Moldovan court in April 2023 to 15 years in prison for a $1 billion bank fraud and is believed to be in Russia.
Related:
- Sandu claims 300,000 votes bought in “fraud of unprecedented scale” at first round of Moldova’s presidential election
- Inside Russia’s € 150 million propaganda blitz to undermine Moldova’s EU path
- EU to continue support Moldova amid rising threat of Russian interference
- German FM says Moldova Russia’s next target if Ukraine falls
