VIDEO // Three people detained following searches in south Moldova; group allegedly aimed to bribe voters through PSB application of Russian bank Promsvyazbank

Three people have been detained following 60 searches conducted in south Moldova in a case of electoral bribery and money laundering. The group allegedly aimed to corrupt voters through the PSB mobile application of the Russian bank Promsvyazbank.

According to the General Police Inspectorate (IGP), a group of individuals, acting on behalf of a criminal organization guided from outside the country, allegedly aimed to corrupt the electorate during this year's parliamentary elections. Thus, the suspects would have transferred, converted, liquidated and distributed funds of dubious origin through the PSB mobile application of the Russian bank 'Promsvyazbank', an institution under international sanctions.

‘’The authorities established that part of the funds transferred via PSB was liquidated through the Telegram application, using a bot-channel. At the time of the raids, transactions in Russian rubles were continuing on the suspects' PSB accounts, with access to the application being possible through VPN Russia. Also, investigations showed that, through Telegram groups, organization members received direct instructions from custodians in the Russian Federation regarding the distribution and commenting on disinformation video materials on social media platforms Facebook, TikTok, and Telegram,’’ IGP said.

During the searches, law-enforcement bodies seized: sums of money in different currencies, mobile phones and laptops, bank documents and МИР cards from various Russian banks, draft notes, an illegally held weapon, radio stations, a luxury Tesla car purchased due to illegal activities.

Authorities continue investigations, in order to gather evidence and identify all individuals involved. The actions are being investigated within a criminal file concerning voters’ bribery, illegal financing of political parties, initiative groups, and electoral contenders, as well as money laundering in particularly large amounts.

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Prime Minister Dorin Recean has recently warned that Russia allocated over 100 million euros for bribing voters, organizing violent protests and conducting hybrid attacks in Moldova.