Authorities officially launched the extradition process for former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc after Greek law enforcement apprehended him on the morning of July 22 at Athens International Airport.
Minister of Internal Affairs Daniela Misail-Nichitin confirmed the arrest to Teleradio-Moldova and stated that officials activated the extradition mechanism immediately in line with international regulations.
“Yes, authorities detained him at Athens airport. Officials will now organize the extradition procedure according to international practices. Any Interpol member state abides by extradition regulations, and once authorities detain a person, this mechanism comes into force,” the minister said.
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She added that predicting the duration of the process remains impossible at this stage:
“Authorities handle each case based on its particular circumstances. We will not speculate on possible outcomes. The procedure must comply with both national and international legal frameworks.”
Meanwhile, acting Prosecutor General Alexandru Masidon said he had not yet received official confirmation of Plahotniuc’s arrest and was still waiting for details from Interpol.
According to the National Police, Greek authorities detained Vladimir Plahotniuc in Athens on Tuesday, July 22. Interpol communicated the information to Moldovan officials. His lawyer, Lucian Rogac, declined to comment on the arrest.
Sources from Realitatea also reported that Greek authorities detained a second Moldovan citizen alongside Plahotniuc, former MP Constantin Tutu.