Moldovan president says USA's decision on imposing sanctions to serve as example for Moldova's justice

Chisinau, 26 October /MOLDPRES/ - The findings of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the measures undertaken by the U.S. Government as to 21 people and entities involved in corruption acts can serve as example for the justice from Moldova. President Maia Sandu has made statements to this effect, after the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions, including against the former leader of the Moldovan Democratic Party (PDM), Vladimir Plahotniuc and the leader of the Shor Party, Ilan Shor.   

According to the official, the Moldovan justice sabotaged and procrastinated the criminal prosecution, the consideration of files in court, the calling to account for corruption and the recovery of the money from Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor.

„The big corruption and the illegal financing of political parties from Moldova can be sanctioned, however! The USA nominated 21 people and entities involved in corruption acts, who caused serious damages to Moldova and its citizens. OFAC of the American Treasury found out that Vlad Plahotniuc is responsible for corruption in particularly large amounts. He was included in the list of sanctions of the Global Magnitsky Act. The American authorities confirmed that Vlad Plahotniuc had seized and corrupted judicial institutions and of the rule of law state from Moldova. Plahotniuc used money from corruption and influenced the political establishment, in order to remove the political rivals and subordinate the justice from Moldova,’’ Maia Sandu stressed.          

At the same time, according to the Moldovan president, OFAC ascertained that Ilan Shor was his accomplice in actions of undermining the rule of law state, for the benefit of Russia. ‘’Shor, along with other corrupt oligarchs and with the involvement of foreign entities, undertakes actions of destabilizing the political situation in Moldova. Backed by the aforementioned entities, Shor took efforts of undermining the process of getting by Moldova of the status of country candidate for EU,’’ Maia Sandu said.  

The decision by the United States Department of the Treasury on the imposing of sanctions was taken today evening and was announced by U. S. Ambassador to Moldova Kent Logsdon at a news briefing. As a result, all properties and assets owned by the concerned persons were blocked and must be reported at OFAC.