Ilan Shor sent to trial in case involving organization of illegal financing of ALDE with over $452,000

Ilan Shor will stand trial in a case involving the organization of the illegal financing of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party with over $452,000 obtained from sources prohibited by law, as well as the knowingly accepting of political party financing from an organized criminal group, in his capacity as organizer and instigator. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced today the completion of the criminal investigation and the referral of the criminal case to the court for examination.

According to the prosecutors, Ilan Shor, as the leader of the Shor criminal group, allegedly persuaded Alexandr Nesterovschi, a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, to take action to convince Arina Spătaru to accept the leadership of a pro-European political party that was to be financed by the organized criminal group led by Shor and act in the group’s interests. For these actions, Alexandr Nesterovschi was sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay more than 1.1 million lei.

Subsequently, after Arina Spătaru agreed to represent a political party with pro-European views, the defendant allegedly identified and instigated two other individuals, who have already been convicted based on plea agreements, to act in his interests by providing Arina Spătaru with the necessary support to take over and lead a right-wing political party.


“The intended goal was allegedly for the party to participate in the local elections, so that the organized criminal group could maintain and consolidate its control over political and social processes. One of the individuals involved allegedly had the role of receiving and transferring funds from the organized criminal group led by Ilan Shor to the other person, who was to handle the administration and financial management of the party. At the same time, according to the evidence gathered, he allegedly financed ALDE party with $452,700,” the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office stated.


In this case, on April 24, 2026, the Chișinău Court, Ciocana headquarters, granted the prosecutor’s request and ordered the application of pre-trial detention against Ilan Shor for a period of 30 days. The criminal case is to be examined in the absence of the accused, who is evading criminal prosecution.

For the offense of illegally financing political parties, the law provides for a fine ranging from 42,500 to 67,500 lei or imprisonment for 3 to 6 years. Knowingly accepting political party financing from an organized criminal group is punishable by imprisonment for 6 to 10 years, a fine ranging from 300,000 to 400,000 lei, and disqualification from holding certain public positions or carrying out certain activities for a period of 7 to 10 years.