US imposes sanctions against Moldovan oligarch
The US State Department has imposed sanctions against the Moldovan oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc.
He will be denied an American visa due to his involvement in corruption and the undermining of democratic institutions in Moldova.
“This decision clearly demonstrates that the United States does not tolerate corruption and supports the people of Moldova in the fight against it. The Department of State will continue to use these measures to encourage prosecution of corrupt officials in this region and around the world”, Secretary of State USA Mike Pompeo tweeted.
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Secretary of State Pompeo says Plahotniuc, holding a public office, “was involved in corrupt actions that undermined the rule of law and jeopardized the independence of democratic institutions in Moldova.”
Vladimir Plahotniuc's corrupt actions undermined the rule of law and severely compromised the independence of democratic institutions in #Moldova. Today, I publicly designate him. The U.S. stands with Moldova in its fight against corruption.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 13, 2020
Moldovan Ziarul de Garda says that in addition to Plahotniuc himself, his wife Oksana Kildescu, the adult son Timothy Plahotniuc and their minor child have fallen under sanctions.
The former leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Vlad Plahotniuc, practically controlled the authorities and informally ruled Moldova until June 2019, when the parliament voted for the new government, dismissing the government of the Democratic Party. Plahotniuc left the country, his whereabouts at the moment are not exactly known.
In October 2019, a Moldovan court issued an arrest warrant for allegedly large-scale money laundering by Plathotniuc.
According to ZGD, the runaway oligarch unsuccessfully has tried to obtain asylum in Ukraine and the United States.
