The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office in cooperation with the National Anti-Corruption Centre and the Intelligence and Security Service conducted today, February 18, more than 20 raids in the case of illegal financing of the political party Shor.

The prosecution actions were carried out throughout the country, at the homes of members of the faction, who are actively and systematically involved in receiving and distributing money in particularly large proportions to presidents and vice-presidents of the party’s territorial offices, for transporting and remunerating citizens from different regions of the country to the protests organized by the Shor Party in the period September 2022 – present, including the protest planned for the 19th of February 2023, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office informs in a press release.

Eight people were detained today. The detained persons are charged with the offence of complicity in accepting party financing from an organised criminal group, an offence under Article 181/2 para. (5) of the Criminal Code, which is punishable by up to 7 years in prison, according to the prosecutor’s office.

During the searches carried out on 20 October 2022, prosecutors and officers seized more than MDL 4.2 million and USD 4,000, and on 2 November 2022, more than MDL 320,000 was detected and seized.

Over the past months, with the help of special technical means, it was possible to document several episodes in which members of the organized criminal group transmitted over 3.3 million Moldovan Lei (around 165,000 EUR) 61,000 EUR and 55,000 USD to members and activists of the Shor Party, the prosecutor’s office also recalls.

According to the prosecutor’s office, this money was allegedly used to pay people who took part in protests, pay for transport and envelope salaries to party members. The evidence gathered would confirm that the money came from sources prohibited by law.

The criminal prosecution is in its final phase and decisions will be taken on the basis of the evidence so far.