Pro-Russian Trace: Moldova Has Exposed   a Scheme for Bribing Voters Through a russian Sanctioned Bank

Moldovan law enforcement agencies have conducted searches in Autonomous Territorial Unit  Gagauz Yeri as part of an investigation into the illegal financing of the pro-russian party Shor and bribing voters.

The National Inspectorate of Investigations and the Prosecutor’s Office for Fighting Organized Crime identified a group of people who, during 2024, were engaged in the conversion and withdrawal of money through the russian “promsvyazbank”, which is under US, EU, and UK sanctions.

The   scheme included  transferring funds to Moldovan citizens who were eligible to vote (pensioners and state employees) through the russian mobile application PSB, followed by exchange and payment in cash. To make the payments, pro-russian oligarch I. Shor and “promsvyazbank” registered the company “A7”, where he owns a 51 % controlling stake, and 49  % is controlled by “promsvyazbank”. I. Shor also owns 75 % of the shares of  “Exim International”, a company created jointly with the russian state-owned  corporation “veb.rf”.

During the searches, law enforcement officers seized cell phones, financial documents, records and cash confirming the activities of the criminal group.

At the same time, during searches in Chisinau, police seized more than USD 450 thousand  in various currencies. Those funds were used for unofficial payments to drivers who transported goods and money in the interests of the Shor party.

Despite the systemic counteraction from law enforcement agencies, the activities of Shor Party-related structures continue. For example, the “Eurasia” Association, controlled by I. Shor, continues to offer financial support to various categories of the population in difficulty. The most recent example was the offer of financial assistance to railway workers who were protesting over salary delays. The promised amount of USD 700 was to be received after providing personal data  to an e-mail account created on the russian platform “yandex”.

According to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, the structures controlled by pro-russian oligarch I. Shor continue to implement illegal financial schemes with the assistance of moscow. This allows them to support loyalty among certain strata of the population and maintain political influence in the country. On the eve of the parliamentary elections, this trend will intensify.