The European Union foreign ministers decided this Monday to impose sanctions on six individuals to whom they attribute actions aimed at destabilizing, undermining, or jeopardizing the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, including maneuvers aimed at subverting its democratic processes.
Among those sanctioned are individuals linked to magnate Ilan Shor, considered a central figure in Russian interference in Moldova, as well as members of structures that succeed the SOR party, a party outlawed by the Moldovan Constitutional Court.
As the Twenty-Seven have stated in a statement, these individuals have actively intervened in operations funded by Russia with the purpose of interfering in the parliamentary elections of September 2025, articulating vote-buying plans and disinformation campaigns.
Some of those sanctioned are also linked to Evrazia, a non-governmental organization based in Russia already included in the European Union's sanctions list, through which recruitment, training, propaganda dissemination, and the creation of influence networks were coordinated.
Specifically, the member states have approved measures against Irina Vlah, leader of the Inima Moldovei party, for her direct involvement in the organization of a paid electoral rally in July 2025, simulating popular support for the newly created "patriotic" political bloc, and after it was found that she made "repeated visits" to Moscow before the legislative elections of September 2025, where she met with senior Russian officials to receive electoral coordination instructions.
The list also includes Anton Tregub, a Russian advisor to the Moldova Mare political party, who directed its electoral campaign by promoting bribery and corrupt practices. This party was ultimately excluded from the elections due to illegal financing and vote-buying.
Another individual singled out is Anton Usov, a Russian citizen who infiltrated ecclesiastical structures and launched an influence campaign, mobilizing priests and instructing them on how they should guide the vote of their parishioners. Furthermore, he is attributed with channeling payments through Russian channels and systematically collecting personal data during religious services.
The restrictive measures contemplate the freezing of all assets and holdings that designated persons and entities hold in EU territory, as well as the prohibition of entry into Member States. Likewise, it is forbidden to provide sanctioned individuals with funds or economic resources of any nature, directly or indirectly.
With this new package, the EU raises to 29 the number of individuals and to five the number of entities subject to restrictions for pro-Russian interference in Moldova, thus reinforcing its support for one of the Eastern European countries most affected by the aggression against Ukraine and which has long denounced coup threats linked to the Kremlin through the separatist region of Transnistria.