Greece has extradited an oligarch and former senior politician of Moldova accused of involvement in a $1 billion theft.
Vladimir Plahotniuc, 59, was flown from Athens, Greece to the capital of Moldova on Thursday morning and then taken to a detention center in Chisinau, local officials reported.
Plahotniuc has denied any wrongdoing, saying allegations against him were based on “slander and political hatred.” He is the chief suspect in connection with the 2014 disappearance of $1 billion, a sum that then equaled roughly twelve percent of Moldova’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Before fleeing Moldova in 2019, he was the leader of the Democratic party, part of the governing coalition from 2016 to 2019. He served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament, a noteworthy government position.
In 2023, the European Union imposed sanctions on Plahotniuc and six others for actions that it said destabilized and undermined the territorial integrity of Moldova and Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia.
Greek police said Plahotniuc has lived in 22 countries since 2023. They arrested him at the international airport of Athens after he boarded a plane to Dubai, acting on an Interpol notice which states that he held sixteen passports, including from Romania, Mexico, and Russia.
Russia, which says it wants Plahotniuc extradited there to face drug-related charges, denies interference in Moldova’s affairs.
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