Moldovan businessman Ilan Șor, backed by Russia, urged voters to support George Simion in the Romanian elections
In a shocking turn of events, a criminal investigation in the Republic of Moldova has uncovered evidence of voter manipulation and corruption in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The investigation, led by the General Inspectorate of Police, has revealed closed group chats composed of members affiliated with a criminal organization. These chats received instructions and direct messages from coordinators and leaders, with the aim to corrupt voters.
The group involved in this case used mobile applications such as "PSB" and "TAITO" for illegal money transfers. According to reports by deschide.md and G4Media, members of the group were transferring, converting, liquidating, and distributing money (rubles) using the mobile application "PSB" of the Russian bank "Promsviazybank." Representatives of the criminal organization are also accused of installing the mobile application "TAITO" on citizens' phones for illegal money transfers.
The investigation has led to the detention of two individuals, who already hold the status of defendants in another criminal case being examined by the court in Moldova. The phones, laptops, and cards used for these transfers have been seized.
The criminal organization is seen as a threat to the democratic process in Moldova, with the group aiming to influence the outcome of the elections. This is not the first time such allegations have surfaced, as the fugitive Moldovan oligarch Ilan Șor was reported to have directed his supporters to vote for George Simion in the May presidential elections in Romania. However, there is no direct evidence in the search results indicating that Ilan Șor's associates urged George Simion to run for president.
George Simion, a Romanian nationalist and far-right politician, gained substantial prominence in Romania by winning the first round of the 2025 presidential election with 41% of the vote. He is the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party and a significant figure in Romania's sovereigntist and conservative political movement. The political dynamics surrounding Simion include the annulment of the 2024 election that had seen another nationalist candidate disqualified. Simion, who succeeded the disqualified candidate, might overlap or align with some Moldovan nationalist or pro-Russian oligarch interests, though this remains unconfirmed specifically with respect to Ilan Șor.
In the second round of voting on May 18, 2025, approximately 88% of voters in the Republic of Moldova backed pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan. The outcome of the upcoming parliamentary elections remains uncertain, but the ongoing investigation serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding democratic values and ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
Sources:
- deschide.md
- G4Media
- Wikipedia
- BBC News
- The Guardian
- The ongoing investigation in Moldova's parliamentary elections highlights the intersection between politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, as the General Inspectorate of Police uncovers evidence of voter manipulation and corruption.
- The revelation of illegal money transfers using mobile applications such as "PSB" and "TAITO" within a criminal organization involved in Moldova's elections raises concerns about the integrity of the upcoming parliamentary elections and the influence of certain interests on the democratic process, setting a precedent for future investigations in the realm of politics and crime-and-justice.
