Prosecutors accuse Shor of covertly funding ALDE with organized crime money, while authorities seek Russia’s cooperation to notify the fugitive.
The Chișinău City Court issued an arrest warrant for fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor in the case of illegal financing of the pro-European ALDE party.
According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the decision was made on April 24 at the prosecutor’s request. According to the investigation, Shor is hiding in the Russian Federation, and as a result Moldovan authorities sent to Russia a request for international legal assistance to inform the suspect of the charges.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Shor is accused of organizing illegal financing of a political party from prohibited sources, including money from an organized crime group, as well as of instigating this. According to the investigation, he attempted to illegally finance the pro-European party in order to preserve control over Moldova’s political and social processes.
Prosecutors say that through former deputy Alexandru Nesterovschi Shor contacted ALDE leader Arina Spetaru and proposed creating or leading a pro-European party. According to the investigation, he assured that “the organized crime group would support the party and fund the new political force.” After Spetaru’s trip to Israel, Nesterovschi, under investigation, handed her $50,000, 100,000 lei, and a phone to contact Shor.
Subsequently Shor recruited two more people to create or lead the pro-European party so that they would participate in local elections.
The investigation claims that Shor financed ALDE to the tune of $452,700, or more than 8 million lei.
Reaction and Next Steps
The ALDE leader Arina Spetaru said that she expects justice and fairness.
In 2023 I participated in this investigation as an undercover agent. I did not take any money from Shor – neither then nor after. I did this because I believe Moldova must rid itself of political corruption and the influence of criminal groups. Three years later I see that progress is being made. Slower than it should be, but progress is being made
– Arina Spetaru
According to the prosecutor’s office, Moldovan oligarch and fugitive Ilan Shor also announced the closing of his social projects in Moldova, blaming the country’s authorities for it.