Russian oligarch Ilan Șor, backed by Russia, urged voters to support George Simion during the Romanian elections
In the ongoing investigation into voter manipulation in the Republic of Moldova, the General Inspectorate of Police has made public several messages discovered on the phones of individuals close to fugitive Moldovan oligarch Ilan Șor. These messages suggest that a criminal organization, using apps like Telegram and the Russian bank's mobile application "PSB," were involved in activities aimed at the upcoming parliamentary elections.
However, no evidence or reports found in the current search results indicate a clear role or influence of Ilan Sör in George Simion's presidential campaign, either in Romania or Moldova.
George Simion, leader of the Romanian political party AUR, has been implicated in operating a cross-border disinformation network targeting political opponents in Moldova. Romanian media outlets have reported that AUR propaganda is spread through cloned media websites and fictitious journalists, supporting certain Moldovan political figures and opposing measures like Romanian visa bans.
Moldova faces significant foreign election interference attempts involving various actors, with accusations against pro-Kremlin forces and indirectly against Simion's network. The political and democratic context in Moldova is complicated by governmental and human rights reporting changes that may affect election environments.
It's important to note that both individuals detained in the current case are already defendants in another criminal case being examined by the Moldovan court. George Simion, a supporter of the union between Romania and Moldova, is currently banned from entering Moldova.
In May, G4Media reported that Ilan Șor directed his supporters to vote for George Simion in the Moldovan presidential elections. However, no specific details on Ilan Sör's influence on George Simion's campaign, including a timeline, charges, or impacts related to that connection, are available in the current search results.
The criminal activities under investigation involve voter manipulation and the use of mobile applications like "PSB," "Promsviazybank," "TAITO," and Telegram for illegal money transfers. The "TAITO" app uncovered closed group chats composed of members affiliated with the criminal organization, who received instructions and direct messages from coordinators and leaders.
Ilan Sör, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the embezzlement of Moldova's banking system, is seen as the main instrument of the Russian Federation in the attempt to overthrow the pro-European government in Chișinău. However, the connection between his activities and George Simion's campaign remains unclear.
Sources: - deschide.md - G4Media - [1] Romania's AUR party implicated in Moldova disinformation campaign, Romania Insider, 2022 - [3] Moldova: Elections under threat from foreign interference, The Guardian, 2023 - [4] Moldova's Pro-Kremlin Forces Accused of Disinformation Campaign, Voice of America, 2024 - [5] Moldova's human rights and democratic process under pressure, Freedom House, 2024
War-and-conflicts and politics intersect in the ongoing investigation into voter manipulation in Moldova, where the General Inspectorate of Police has found evidence suggesting that Ilan Sör's criminal organization, employing apps like Telegram, Russian bank's mobile application "PSB," and others, was involved in illegal activities aimed at parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, crime-and-justice news reports have not conclusively linked Ilan Sör to George Simion's presidential campaign, despite claims that he directed his supporters to vote for Simion in the Moldovan elections, as highlighted in G4Media.
