Moldova’s future is in Europe. That is the path the people of Moldova have chosen, and it was the message they reaffirmed at the European Moldova National Assembly on May 21. Nearly 50 European leaders came to Moldova last week to express their commitment to Moldova’s European future.
Unfortunately, there are outside forces that do not respect the choices the Moldova people have freely made. Today, the United States announced sanctions against seven members of a Russian intelligence-linked malign influence group for their role in the Government of the Russian Federation’s destabilization campaign and continued malign influence campaigns in Moldova.
These seven individuals played key roles in an attempt to capitalize on protests that took place in February and March of this year, with the ultimate goal of seizing the Moldovan Government House and forcing the elected government of Moldova to call early elections. The protests were organized by the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, whom OFAC previously designated in October 2022 for receiving support from Russia, coordinating with representatives of other oligarchs to create political unrest in Moldova, and working with Moscow-based entities to undermine Moldova’s European integration. As noted in the White House’s March 10 statement on Russia’s attempts to destabilize Moldova, this plot was an effort by Russia-connected malign influence actors to foment a manufactured insurrection against the Moldovan government.
The Moldovan government is working effectively to counter such attempts to undermine the country’s democracy and stability. The United States will continue to support the government and people of Moldova to build a democratic, prosperous, and secure Moldova, firmly anchored in Europe. Our action against these individuals today is the latest example of the U.S. commitment to hold accountable those who wish deny the Moldovan people the right to chart their country’s course.
