Director of the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) Alexandru Musteața held a press briefing on Monday 10 July on the dismantling of an “agent network involved in treason and espionage”.

“SIS and PCCOCS have concluded and sent to court one of the criminal cases initiated on the constitutive elements of the crime of treason against the homeland under Article 337 and espionage under Article 338 of the Criminal Code against a group of persons engaged in organizing hostile activities against the security of Moldova and its citizens.

Since 2020, citizens of the Russian Federation Iurie G and Vadim I, under the command and coordination of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, known generically by the acronym FSB, have been identifying and recruiting citizens of the Republic of Moldova, thus building an agent network on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

The activity of the Russian citizens and the agent network was aimed at influencing the socio-political processes of Moldova in the interests of the Russian Federation. At the same time, they also aimed to maintain Moldova’s dependence on the Russian Federation, but they also carried out information operations to shape public opinion,” Alexandru Musteața said.

Moreover, according to the head of SIS, during the two years in which law enforcement officers documented the activity of the “agent network”, members would have collected data and information of a social-political nature, especially about legislative intentions and plans, compromising information about political leaders and would have organized “dark” information projects.

At the same time, after 24 February 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine, the group allegedly committed “crimes under a foreign flag” and recruited citizens to participate in or provoke violent acts.

“The activity of creating channels for the transfer of financial means from the Russian Federation to Moldova for the purpose of financing subversive actions against the interests and security of the state was also documented.

One of the agents recruited by Iurie G and Vadim I had the task of identifying and securing such financial channels, providing logistical support for projects ordered and financed by the FSB, as well as recruiting other citizens of Moldova,” Musteața added.

In total, during 2021 “through these dark channels alone” more than $500 thousand would have been transferred.

The Moldovan citizen, who is alleged to be the agent, is in custody and is charged with treason and swindling on a particularly large scale.

“The prosecution continues. Currently, three persons are under indictment, including citizens of the Russian Federation Iurie G and Vadim I and a citizen of the Republic of Moldova who is reported to be wanted,” according to the SIS director.