Moldova turns to Russia to seek extradition of convicted politician

26/5/2024 13:17

        Moldova is now seeking extradition from Russia of an opposition politician convicted of mass fraud after he moved there from exile in Israel, the country's justice minister said on Saturday.
        
        Ilan Shor, a pro-Russian business magnate, was sentenced last year in absentia to 15 years in prison in connection with the disappearance from the banking system of $1 billion in 2014, dubbed Moldova's "theft of the century".
        
        Shor has organised noisy street demonstrations against pro-European President Maia Sandu and urged Moldovans to vote "no" in a referendum authorities have called for October on joining the European Union by 2030.
        
        Justice Minister Veronica-Mihailov Moraru said Moldova would redirect its extradition appeals to Moscow after Shor said he had moved to Russia and announced he had been granted Russian citizenship.