The Prosecutor General, Alexandr Stoianoglo, requested the United States of America to extradite the former leader of the Democratic Party, Vladimir Plahotniuc, who is charged of involvement in the “Billion Theft”. 

On June 17, the Prosecutor General sent to the U.S. all the documents for Moldova’s tycoon extradition.

“The extradition request is based on the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted in New York on November 15, 2000, ratified by Moldova on October 16, 2005, as well as on the basis of the principle of reciprocity,” the Office of the Prosecutor General.

At the same time, the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office sent to the U.S. authorities a request for an investigative commission, requesting Plahotniuc’s criminal prosecution, and the investigation of the origin of his assets in the U.S.

In the next few days, the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS) is to send a request for an investigative commission to the U.S. authorities related to another criminal case against Plahotniuc.

Both requests for an investigative commission are submitted in order to adduce evidence necessary to confirm the accusations brought against Plahotniuc and to identify and freeze Plahotniuc’s assets obtained in an illegal way, as well as to recover the damage caused by the fraud of the banking system.

On May 22, 2020, the court allowed the PCCOCS to issue an arrest warrant in the name of Plahotniuc. The issuance of this preventive measure took place after the prosecutors charged Plahotniuc with accusations of scam, money laundering, organization, and leadership of a criminal organization. For these crimes, the law provides for up to 15 years in prison.

• One Year After Vladimir Plahotniuc, the Country’s Tycoon Left Moldova. The Status of the Cases Opened Against Him.

Plahotniuc left Moldova in June 2019, after the Democratic Party led by him was ousted by a coalition formed by the ACUM Bloc and the Socialist Party. The coalition broke apart in November 2019.

Following Plahotniuc’s departure from the country, several criminal cases have been initiated against him. In March 2020, the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău confirmed that Plahotniuc is on U.S. territory.