Republic of Moldova - April 2023

The exiled Moldovan oligarch and political party leader Ilan Shor was sentenced to 15 years in prison on 13 April for his role in the theft of about USD 1 billion in bank assets, or about 15 per cent of the country’s GDP, in 2015. The Moldovan parliament then stripped Shor of his parliamentary mandate on 27 April. Shor’s party, which holds six of parliament’s 101 seats, has organized large protests against inflation and the government’s support of Ukraine. These protests contributed to the resignation of the government in February 2023. The Moldovan government has argued the protests are the work of “criminal groups” and that protesters are being compensated to attend. Protesters interviewed by journalists have spoken openly about being transported to the capital on buses by the Shor Party and paid a daily rate to participate.

Sources: Reuters, Newsmaker, Deutsche Welle, Politico