UK Sanctions Pro-Russia Network in Moldova
The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on a pro-Russian network accused of attempting to rig a referendum in Moldova and destabilize its democracy, the Foreign Office announced.
The sanctions target Evrazia, a pro-Russian organization operating in Moldova under the influence of fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor. According to the UK government, the group serves as a tool for Shor to interfere in Moldovan politics, including efforts to sway public opinion against EU integration.
Moldovan authorities revealed that Evrazia distributed approximately $15 million to around 130,000 citizens, bribing them to vote against EU membership in last year’s referendum. Beyond election interference, the group has also been recruiting young people for ideological training, offering trips to Moscow as part of a broader effort to expand its influence.
Among those sanctioned are Natalia Parasca, a key figure in the Moldovan party Renaissance, and Marina Tauber, a member of the Moldovan parliament.
This move aligns with the UK’s Plan for Change, a strategy aimed at combating corruption and illicit financial activities both domestically and internationally.
‘These sanctions send a clear message: We will not stand idly by as Russia undermines democracy and the rule of law, threatening the security of our friends and partners,’ UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated.
As The Gaze previously reported, on 31 March, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry expelled three Russian diplomats.