Canada has imposed sanctions on 16 Moldovan citizens and two entities for their alleged involvement in the Russian Federation’s malign interference activities. The Canadian government named Irina Vlah, head of the Heart of Moldova party, and Evghenia Gutul, governor (bashkan) of Gagauzia, among the sanctioned individuals.
The list also targets Victoria Furtuna, head of the Great Moldova party; journalist Dmitri Buimistru; activist Veaceslav Valico; Alexei Lungu, leader of the Chance Party; and fugitive deputies Alexandr Nesterovschi and Irina Lozovan. Canada also sanctioned the Victory political bloc and the Shield of the People Association of People with Epaulettes.
The Canadian foreign affairs ministry recommended the decision, citing a “severe breach of peace and security.”
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The ministry stated: “These individuals actively coordinated efforts to destabilize Moldova’s democratically elected government. Many of them are officials and associates of the political party founded by Ilan Shor, who fled Moldova in 2019. The list also includes former Moldovan officials, associates in Gagauzia with strong ties to Russia, pro-Russian media figures spreading disinformation, and other participants in Russia’s malign operations abroad.”
Canada also imposed sanctions on the Victory bloc, Shor’s successor party, which was launched in Russia, and on a paramilitary group led by Shor, which organized anti-government protests in Moldova in 2023.
Sanctioned individuals and entities cannot conduct financial transactions or property deals with Canadian citizens and are considered inadmissible in Canada.
Many individuals on this list previously faced EU sanctions for their involvement in attempts to destabilize Moldova.
