Moldovan Prosecutor General's Office: Vladimir Plahotniuc expresses consent for extradition

The former leader of the Moldovan Democratic Party (PDM), Vladimir Plahotniuc, expressed his consent for extradition today. The Prosecutor General's Office (PG) was informed that Plahotniuc's Greek lawyer had sent a letter to the prosecutors in this regard.

According to PG, the request is to be analyzed by the Greek prosecutors and subsequently, the Moldovan authorities will be informed about the decision taken.

The institution presented the chronology of the events in the context of Vladimir Plahotniuc's detention, in order to avoid speculations appeared in the public space. It specified that "the Prosecutor General's Office provides only information officially confirmed by the institutions involved in this process."

Thus, on July 22, Plahotniuc was detained by the Greek authorities at the Athens International Airport while trying to leave the country. The PG was officially informed on this by the Chisinau Interpol NCB.

Subsequently, on July 23, an arrest warrant was issued against Vladimir Plahotniuc, with a view to extradition, by the prosecutor from the Athens Court of Appeal - the competent authority in this procedure.

On July 24, the PG sent the official extradition request to the Greek Ministry of Justice, both directly and through diplomatic channels. The request is based on charges of fraud and money laundering under aggravating circumstances, as well as the establishment and leadership of a criminal organization.

Also, on July 27, through the Interpol Bureaus of both countries, Moldovan authorities were informed that Vladimir Plahotniuc had not expressed his consent for extradition. On the day after, Greek prosecutors repeatedly confirmed that Plahotniuc's lawyers had not filed any request on his behalf to the competent authorities.

Alongside Vladimir Plahotniuc, former lawmaker Constantin Tutu was also detained. A string of documents belonging to them was seized following body searches conducted at the airport and residence in Greece. The documents contained different identities and some belonged to the same state.