Moldovan Justice Ministry says release on bail of Veaceslav Platon does not minimize chances of extradition

The release on bail of Veaceslav Platon does not minimize the chances of extradition to Moldova. Ministry of Justice has made statements to this effect, after he was released on bail today.

According to the institution, release on bail is a form of preventive measure, without impact on the substance of the extradition procedure.

“The extradition request for Veaceslav Platon, addressed to the British authorities, was sent by the Ministry of Justice on May 14, 2025. It concerns three criminal cases that are currently pending in courts. An extradition request for the same person was also sent by the Prosecutor General's Office. Based on this, on March 13, 2025, Veaceslav Platon was detained by the British authorities,” the Ministry of Justice said.

The two extradition requests have been connected and will be examined in a single procedure. British courts are expected to pronounce a decision on the extradition during November 24–28, 2025.

“In Moldova, according to the legislation, the responsibility for extradition procedures falls on the Prosecutor General's Office and the Ministry of Justice. Thus, according to the Criminal Procedure Code, the Prosecutor general's Office is the competent authority for transmitting extradition requests and related documents in cases of wanted persons. For its part, the Ministry of Justice is responsible for the submission of the extradition request for already convicted persons,” the Ministry of Justice noted.

On March 13, 2025, Veaceslav Platon was detained by British authorities. After his detention, preventive arrest was applied to ensure the extradition procedure.

On July 23, this year, the British court accepted the release of Veaceslav Platon on bail of 330 thousand pounds, imposing a string of conditions, including electronic monitoring.

Veaceslav Platon is prosecuted in the criminal file commonly known as “Laundromat,” being accused of organizing and leading a criminal organization; organizing the deliberate issuance by a judge of a ruling, sentence, decision, or conclusion contrary to the law; organizing abuse of office committed in the interest of an organized criminal group or a criminal organization; organizing the fabrication, possession, and use of false official documents, committed by two or more persons, and organizing money laundering by a criminal organization, in particularly large amounts.