Mihai Popsoi Calls for International Sanctions on Moldovan Oligarchs, in Brussels

Moldova’s Vice President of Parliament and PAS deputy, Mihai Popsoi, has called for an international regime of sanctions against Moldovan oligarchs, including Ilan Shor, whose trial has been delayed for several years. “Moldovans are asking how an oligarch who has been convicted can have his appeal decision delayed while for other citizens convicted of less serious crimes, timely decisions are issued,” said Popsoi during a press conference on Wednesday, March 22, along with Siegfried Muresan, a Member of the European Parliament from the National Liberal Party.

Popsoi called for a regime that would make it much more difficult for oligarchs to spend money and would be a clear message to Moldova’s justice system that they need to do their job. “It’s a shame for Moldova’s justice system that there is no definitive decision issued in the Appeals Court after seven years since the primary court convicted Shor,” he added. Popsoi emphasized that their priority is judicial reform, to prevent such embarrassing situations when an oligarch can delay the trial process.

The press conference was held in Brussels ahead of the 13th meeting of the Moldova-European Union Parliamentary Association Committee (CPA RM-EU) on Thursday, March 23, at the European Parliament. Besides co-chairman Popsoi, the delegation from the Moldovan legislature included MPs Olesea Stamate and Ina Coseru, members of the CPA RM-EU.

FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR TELEGRAM CHANNEL!

Ilan Shor was convicted by the Chisinau District Court of 7.6 years in prison for fraud and money laundering. The file was contested and even today there is no definitive decision, being transferred from the Chisinau Court of Appeal to Cahul, then Chisinau. The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office announced on March 10 that a new court session was held at which Ilan Șor’s lawyers completed the stage of presenting evidence in support of their client’s appeals. The next court hearing at the Chisinau Court of Appeal was set for April 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

The last time Ilan Şor was seen in the flesh was on June 12, 2019, when he held a press conference, two days before the PDM surrendered power. On July 30 of the same year, it was officially found out that he illegally left the territory of the Republic of Moldova. He is now wanted nationally and internationally, being charged with nine counts of “bank fraud” or “stealing the billion”.