Moldovan Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc Extradited From Greece Over $1 Billion Fraud Ahead Of Election

Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, accused of orchestrating a $1 billion bank fraud in 2014, was extradited from Greece to Moldova in September 2025 to face trial amid the country's politically sensitive parliamentary elections. Once a powerful figure in the Democratic Party of Moldova, Plahotniuc has denied wrongdoing but is wanted for fraud, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy, with sanctions imposed on him by the EU, US, and UK for attempts to destabilize Moldovan politics. His extradition and trial are seen as pivotal given Moldova's geopolitical crossroads between closer ties with the European Union and Russian influence. Plahotniuc fled Moldova in 2019 during multiple investigations and was detained in Greece in July 2025 while attempting to travel to Dubai. The trial is expected to impact voter sentiment as the ruling party confronts economic challenges and corruption concerns. Separate unrelated reports detailed the extradition of an Azerbaijani citizen from Moldova to Ukraine for involvement in counterfeit US dollar sales.