The Chisinau Court of Appeal has begun examining the case seeking to recognize the Russian association “Eurasia” as an extremist organization. Moldovan authorities claim the group, coordinated by fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, is used to manage “subversive influence projects” targeting Moldova.
The case, titled “Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) vs. the Eurasia Organization,” is being heard by the Court of Appeal’s Center branch. The SIS filed its request on July 25, while the first hearing, scheduled for October 6, was postponed for undisclosed reasons, Radio Free Europe reported.
Court spokesperson Adela Rosca confirmed that hearings will be held behind closed doors. The court’s decision has not yet appeared on its official website. By law, such cases must be resolved within two months by the Court of Appeal and within 15 days by the Supreme Court of Justice.
Aliona Arshinova, chair of the Eurasia Coordinating Council and member of Russia’s State Duma, told RIA Novosti that the trial began with procedural violations, claiming she had not received case documents translated into Russian. Arshinova described Eurasia as a “humanitarian organization” helping Moldovan farmers, supporting pensioners, and organizing youth trips to Eurasian countries.
Although the SIS did not publicly announce its submission, the 2024 SIS report on foreign interference in Moldova’s electoral processes mentions Eurasia. According to the report, the association was founded in April 2024 by Nelli Parutenco, former accountant of the now-banned Shor Party, which was declared unconstitutional in 2023. Ilan Shor serves on Eurasia’s coordination council, chaired by Arshinova.
Authorities claim that under Eurasia’s cover, Moldovan youth were sent to Moscow for training in “socio-political techniques, electoral technologies, and destabilization tactics.” Some reportedly continued their training in Bosnia and Herzegovina as “protest provocateurs.”
In August–September 2024, the organization also arranged trips to Moscow for about 500 priests and parishioners of the Moldovan Orthodox Church (under the Russian Patriarchate). Participants were allegedly encouraged to engage in activities aimed at influencing Moldova’s presidential elections and referendum.
On September 14, 2024, the United States sanctioned the Eurasia association for “attempts to destabilize Moldova’s socio-political situation” ahead of the presidential elections.