United States imposes sanctions against former leader of Moldovan Democratic Party

Chisinau, 13 January /MOLDPRES/ - The former leader of the Moldovan Democratic Party (PDM), Vlad Plahotniuc, as well as his family will no longer be able to get the entry visa for the United States after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has publicly nominated him for involvement in significant corruption acts.

In a statement issued today, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo officially nominated Vladimir Plahotniuc for involvement in significant corruption acts. "In his official capacity, Plahotniuc was involved in corrupt acts that undermined the rule of law and severely compromised the independence of democratic institutions in Moldova," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in the statement.   

Under the American legislation, once the Secretary of State nominates officials of foreign countries for involvement, direct or indirect, in significant corruption acts, those persons, as well as the close members of their families become non-eligible for getting entry visas for the United States.     

Also, the law sees that the State Secretary should publicly or privately nominate or identify these officials and the close members of their families. Besides Plahotniuc, his wife Oxana Childescu, his son Timofei Plahotniuc and their minor son were publicly nominated.    

The document issued by the USA reads that ‘’the today action sends a strong signal that the United States does not tolerate corruption and is in solidarity with the people of Moldova in its fight against it. The Department of State will continue using these mechanisms, in order to promote the turning more responsible of the corrupt actors both in this region and all over the world.’’    

The former PDM head has not appeared in the public space of Moldova since 14 June 2019, when the Democrats withdrew from governance. In late last year, Switzerland also informed that it had imposed a ban on Plahotniuc’s entrance to this country.