OREANDA-NEWS. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Moldova requested the extradition of the wanted former leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Vladimir Plahotniuc, from Cyprus, where he could have come from Turkey. This was announced on October 22 by Prosecutor General, Alexandru Stoianoglo.

“So far we have not received any response from the Turkish authorities. In addition to this country, the Prosecutor’s Office has sent requests for the extradition of Mr. Plahotniuc to the Republic of Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. So far, we have received a response only from Saudi Arabia that Plahotniuc did not cross its border,” Stoianoglo said.

Prosecutors call Plahotniuc a main figure in the case of embezzlement of 1 billion euros from the Moldovan banks. He was also charged with the creation and management of a criminal organization, fraud and money laundering.

Plahotniuc fled to the United States after the change of power in Moldova in June 2019. After that, the US Ambassador to Chisinau, Dereck J. Hogan, told reporters that the Moldovan politician voluntarily left the country on August 28. According to Moldovan prosecutors, in September he was in Turkey.