Moldova arrests leader of group suspected of bribing voters in elections and referendum
Illustrative photo: Moldova detains a suspect in election bribery (facebook.com/politiarepubliciimoldova3)
The police in Moldova have arrested the leader of a criminal group suspected of bribing citizens during the elections and referendum on October 20. The group is linked to the pro-Russian fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor, according to Newsmaker.
As the agency reports, the group was paying voters 1,500 lei, approximately $84, per vote. The group leader was arrested in Ungheni, near the border with Romania.
A resident of the city reported him to the law enforcement authorities, revealing the amount offered for voting for a specific candidate in the presidential elections and for voting "no" in the referendum on Moldova's European integration.
Newsmaker reports that the suspect is a 26-year-old local, who has been detained for three days. During searches of his home and office, they found lists of trusted persons and observers at polling stations who were to be paid to influence voters' choices.
Who is Ilan Șor
Ilan Șor is a pro-Russian Moldovan politician and businessman known for his influence on the Moldovan political scene, as well as a series of scandals and corruption allegations. His party has repeatedly organized protests against the country's pro-European authorities.
In 2017, the Chișinău court sentenced him to 7 years and 6 months in prison for his role in the theft of one billion dollars from Moldova's banking system. This decision was appealed, and Șor was placed under judicial control. However, after the change of government in 2019, he fled the country.
On October 26, 2022, the US and the UK imposed sanctions against Șor due to his ties to the Russian government.
Elections in Moldova
Last weekend, Moldova held presidential elections and conducted a referendum on the country's accession to the European Union.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova accused the Russian side of creating artificial queues at polling stations.
For more details on the results of the elections and referendum in Moldova, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
