Moldovan, Russian Authorities Seek Extradition of Oligarch Plahotniuc from Greece

Moldovan oligarch and politician Vladimir Plahotniuc was arrested at Athens International Airport on charges related to the embezzlement of approximately $1 billion from Moldovan state-owned banks between 2012 and 2014, an amount equal to about 12% of Moldova's GDP at the time. Moldovan authorities have formally requested his extradition, citing his involvement in a criminal organization, large-scale fraud, and money laundering, and have submitted all necessary evidence to Greek officials. Shortly after his arrest, Russia also filed an extradition request, accusing Plahotniuc of orchestrating a failed 2014 assassination plot against a pro-Russian Moldovan political rival and participating in a criminal cannabis trafficking ring from Spain to Russia. Both Moldova and Russia must submit full case files within 40 days for the Greek Court of Appeals to evaluate, but the final decision on extradition rests with Greece’s Minister of Justice. Since 2023, Plahotniuc reportedly lived in multiple countries to evade capture, residing recently in a villa near Athens. His arrest and the ensuing extradition battle have drawn significant attention due to his political influence in Moldova and the scale of the alleged financial crimes.