In mid-September, Chisinau sent a repeated request to Tel Aviv for the extradition of Ilan Shor, sentenced to 15 years in prison in the “billion theft” case. “We are waiting, but we do not yet have a decision,” Justice Minister Veronica Mihailov-Moraru told TVR Moldova. According to the Israeli opposition publication Haaretz, the situation in the Shor case will not change as long as “the United States or important EU countries do not put serious pressure” on Israel to change its policy when it comes to oligarchs or criminals from the former USSR who find refuge in Israel”.

Who could make Israel extradite Shor?

Nicolae Osmochescu, former judge of the Constitutional Court

I don’t think anyone, because extradition law is an extremely complicated procedure. Especially when the persons whose extradition is requested are citizens by birth, as in the case of Shor. He obtained citizenship on the basis of blood law and they, as a rule, are not extradited. Exceptions may be cases where there is a convention between states which expressly provides for cases in which a citizen of one country can be extradited to the other. Which countries could put pressure on Israel? I think the states with which Israel has very close relations and a very high degree of cooperation. This could include the US. First of all, the US. But they will never pressure Israel to extradite Shor, even if Shor is on the US and EU sanctions list, because Israel is one thing and Moldova is another. Chisinau’s relations with Tel Aviv are not bad, but they are not such as to influence the Israeli government to comply with Chisinau’s request to extradite Shor. At least, that’s how I see things at the moment.

Iurie Renita, former ambassador

Cases of this kind are governed by bilateral agreements, international treaties and the domestic legislation of the countries concerned. From Chisinau, 10 more extradition requests can be sent, without any effect. Perhaps we should look at the consistency and soundness of the arguments presented by Chisinau to Tel Aviv, since there is no reaction. In the case of extraditions on the grounds of robbery and corruption, legal and factual arguments must prevail, less political pressure from influential states. The predominant focus on political pressure shows the vulnerability of the legal arguments put forward (we have a similar case with Plahotniuc, who even today is not on the Interpol list). If the arguments presented for extradition are similar to the current government’s “reforms” in justice, there are sufficient reasons for Israel not to react to Chisinau’s requests. Let’s not forget that Israel has the best lawyers in the world, and the Ministry of Justice should take this into account. Perhaps it would be better to insist that Shor serve his sentence in Israel and not in Moldova?

Alexandru Arseni, PhD in constitutional law

Let’s be realistic. First of all, all these so-called attempts to bring Shor back to Moldova are just a big fuss.

I don’t want to go into details, but those who could influence Shor’s extradition are more likely to be his protectors, both in the West and in Tel Aviv. Israel will never extradite Shor, because Shor, they say, is not on their lists as a criminal. And that says it all.

Beyond the fact that he was convicted I don’t think it will go. Shor should not have been allowed to leave Moldova. If the services were doing their job, Shor would probably be in jail today and not wanted. PAS should have started an investigation long ago, to see with whose complicity and concurrence it was possible for Șor to escape in 2019. And at least here to apply the law.

Vitalia Pavlicenco, former MP

In the current international context, given the situation in the Middle East, I believe that things are getting more complicated to solve such problems.

One. And two: of course we want all countries to adhere to international legal standards and approaches, but everyone knows that Israel does not extradite its own nationals with one or two fingers.

Jewish solidarity is very strong and I would like Romanians to show the same solidarity with their fellow countrymen as the Jews… I don’t think that now influences from the US or elsewhere could have any effect. I’m sure Shor has a strong lobby there to extract himself from the general rule.