Ilan Shor, a well-known financier and politician involved in siphoning $1 billion from Moldova, is now seeking to turn the country into another Kremlin puppet. His activities are aimed at destabilizing Moldova's political situation and seizing power with support from Moscow.
Recently, a court in Chisinau sentenced Evghenia Gutsul, the governor of Gagauzia, and Svetlana Popan, former secretary of the now-banned Shor Party, to lengthy prison terms. They were accused of transferring funds from Moscow to Moldova to pay for protests and voter bribery, as well as creating criminal organizations supporting pro-Russian forces.
Shor has built a strong electoral base in Gagauzia and enlisted Russian celebrities to endorse his campaign. After his "Victory Bloc" was denied registration in the elections, Shor called on Moldovan citizens to stop paying taxes for a month as a form of protest against the current government.
Cryptocurrency plays a key role in his financial schemes. The A7A5 token, pegged to the Russian ruble, has been launched to circumvent Western sanctions. Assets linked to this token are managed by entities associated with Shor, using a registration in Kyrgyzstan that facilitates dollar exchanges.
The Moldovan government has warned that such actions amount to voter bribery and will carry criminal consequences. Ukrainian authorities urge support for pro-Ukrainian forces in Moldova and action to disrupt Kremlin-backed financial networks.
Shor's actions highlight the growing risk of Russian interference, with the possibility of using technology and financial flows for increased political influence in Moldova. The outcome will depend on the Moldovan government's response and the support of international partners.
