Chisinau is preparing a request for the extradition of Vlad Plahotniuc, a Moldovan citizen who is on the international wanted list

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Moldova has begun the procedure for processing documents to request the extradition of Vlad Plahotniuc, who is detained in Athens.

During a search of the villa where former Democratic Party leader Plahotniuc and ex-MP Tsutsu were hiding, police seized dozens of forged documents, encryption equipment, cash, expensive watches and electronics. Plahotniuc had a Bulgarian passport with him. Both detainees used fake IDs.

Plahotniuc is facing a “bank fraud” case and left Moldova in 2019.

Extradition will be requested under the European Convention on Extradition. The Ministry of Justice confirmed receipt of a notification from Interpol about Plahotniuc’s arrest and the start of the extradition process. The agencies are currently coordinating actions to transfer the full procedural file to the Greek authorities.

Moldovan Interior Minister Daniella Misail-Nikitin stated that “after the arrest, the extradition mechanism is triggered automatically, but the timing depends on the national procedures of each country.” Moldova expects Greece to make a decision within the framework of its legislation.

A second Moldovan citizen was detained along with Plahotniuc, presumably former Moldovan MP Constantin Cucu. The Greek authorities will decide on his possible extradition based on their legislation.

Vlad Plahotniuc (Romanian: Vladimir Plahotniuc, Vlad Plahotniuc, born 1 January 1966) is the largest Moldovan oligarch, politician, and first vice-speaker of the Parliament of Moldova from 30 December 2010 to 15 February 2013. He was a deputy of the Moldovan Parliament twice: from December 2010 to October 2013 and from December 2014 to 30 July 2015.

On 26 October 2022, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Vlad Plahotniuc due to his ties to the Russian government. On 9 December 2022, he was placed under sanctions by the United Kingdom.