Chisinau Airport has ramped up security measures in recent months as investigators pursue evidence of financial irregularities linked to potential foreign interference in Moldova’s political landscape.
Sniffer dog Ami is on the front lines, inspecting luggage for cash. Reports from customs indicate a surge in large cash finders among passengers arriving from connecting flights to Moscow earlier this year.
Customs officials noted unusual patterns, revealing that individuals, who had previously not traveled, returned from Russia with substantial amounts ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 euros. Such occurrences have raised red flags within the customs department.
“Flights from Moscow to Istanbul and Yerevan have featured passengers carrying excessive amounts of cash,” explained Ruslan Alexandrov, head of customs at Chisinau Airport.
In response, authorities initiated cash seizures amounting to approximately $1.5 million in a single day, leading to concerns about a broader scheme orchestrated by fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, currently in Russia and evading extradition.
As Moldova braces for pivotal elections this weekend, heightened vigilance continues at the capital’s airport. Authorities have deployed sniffer dogs and are conducting extensive baggage checks on passengers from high-risk routes.
President Maia Sandu, seeking re-election on a pro-EU platform, faces competition from other candidates, some of whom favor closer ties with Moscow. Voters will additionally participate in a referendum aiming to solidify Moldova’s ambition of EU integration.
The electorate’s choice in the upcoming election is especially critical given Moldova’s ongoing struggle over its geopolitical orientation since gaining independence from the Soviet Union.
This struggle has intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting Sandu to declare Russia a significant security threat and redirect the nation toward the West.
While Russian officials deny any interference, Moldovan leaders accuse the Kremlin of using proxies to destabilize the country.
According to Moldova’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor, Veronica Dragalin, a shocking incident of electoral corruption is unfolding. “We are witnessing a deliberate attempt to manipulate the election process,” she stated, revealing insights from ongoing investigations that shed light on a multi-layered bribery scheme involving foreign funds.
Evidence from wiretaps, undercover operations, and eyewitness accounts indicates a systematic effort to influence voter behavior, with an eye on undermining the upcoming referendum.
Since cash deliveries from airports have been disrupted, payments have shifted to a sanctioned Russian bank, with estimates suggesting that around 130,000 voters received funds to sway their votes.
Some Moldovan citizens appear to be susceptible to these inducements, highlighting the overlap of poverty with political corruption in the country.
While authorities endeavor to trace the origins of these funds, the situation remains complicated. Observers note that previous efforts to curb Shor’s influence—now heavily sanctioned—are faltering.
Amid this turmoil, Sandu has intensified her campaign, appealing to voters to choose a future aligned with the European Union as the pathway to stability.
This contentious climate amplifies the stakes not only for the presidential election but also for the referendum that could reshape Moldova’s political landscape.
