ATHENS – Greece reportedly plans to extradite former politician and businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc to Moldova to face charges over a $1 billion theft from the banking system, days before the country holds a sensitive election.
The government in Moldova and a Greek legal source not named said it would occur Sept. 25, reported Reuters. A Greek court in August ruled in favour of the extradition in the case known as the “theft of the century” in Moldova.
The Greek Justice Ministry had briefly paused the move, irritating Moldova’s pro-European government which has pledged to fight corruption and has accused Russia of meddling in elections.
“Even if he (Plahotniuc) hopes that after the elections Moldova will fall into the hands of Russia and he will be able to come home freely, the institutions must bring him home in handcuffs,” Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said.
Plahotniuc has denied any wrongdoing, saying allegations against him were based on “slander and political hatred.” He is the chief suspect in connection with the disappearance in 2014 of $1 billion – a sum which then equalled roughly 12 percent of Moldova’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP.)
Before fleeing Moldova in 2019, he was the leader of the Democratic party, part of the governing coalition in 2016-2019 and served as deputy speaker of parliament, a powerful position in the government.
In 2023, the European Union imposed sanctions on Plahotniuc and six others for actions that it said destabilised and undermined the territorial integrity of Moldova and Ukraine, was invaded by Russia.
Greek police said Plahotniuc, 59, has lived in 22 countries since 2023. They arrested him at Athens airport after he boarded a plane to Dubai, acting on an Interpol notice which states that he held 16 passports, including from Romania, Mexico and Russia.
Russia, which says it wants Plahotniuc extradited there to face drugs-related charges, denies interfering in Moldova’s affairs, the news report said.
