EU official's statement on sanctions

Chisinau, 31 Jan. /MOLDPRES/- The EU has certain European-level sanctions mechanisms, but not for corruption. The head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, Ambassador Janis Mazeiks made the statement in an interview given exclusively to MOLDPRES State News Agency.

The official said that at this stage the sanctions are directed against specific countries. It is about sanctions against Russian officials, Russian companies or sanctions for human rights violations.

"The European Union operates under slightly different rules than the United States or the United Kingdom. There is currently a discussion among member countries whether there should be sanctions mechanisms for corruption as well. However, this discussion has not been completed and there is no working mechanism. At the same time, EU law enforcement bodies can have close cooperation with the authorities, prosecutors and investigative services of the Republic of Moldova because there are crimes that target EU member states. It is about mechanisms that are already in force and will be able to be developed over time", said Janis Mazeiks.

At the end of last year, the USA and Great Britain set sanctions including against former leader of the PDM Vladimir Plahotniuc and leader of the Shor Party Ilan Shor, investigated for acts of corruption.