EU foreign ministers on Monday are expected to give their political green light to create a new sanctions framework to target Moldovan oligarchs trying to overturn the pro-Western government in Chișinău.
With the new framework, EU travel bans and asset freezes would target those “in view of actions or policies which undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in Moldova”, the text reads, seen by Euractiv.
The sanctions list includes “undermining the holding of elections” and “supporting violent demonstrations or other acts of violence” as listed offences, as well as “serious financial misconduct concerning public funds” and the “unauthorised export of capital” out of the country.
Romania first proposed such a step in February after Moldovan authorities flagged concerns amid intelligence alerts Russia is likely supporting violent protests and training saboteurs in the country.
The framework law is expected to be adopted later this week, after EU foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg on Monday, with the names to be decided later.
Both the Us and the UK have already moved to sanction individuals, including two Moldovan oligarchs who are already widely recognized for corrupting Moldova’s political and economic institutions.
The list is meant to remain empty of names for the time being in a dissuasive move to those responsible for such destabilizing actions.
EU member states and the Republic of Moldova will then gather the evidence before identifying people and entities responsible, as the listing, like any sanctions framework, must hold in front of a court if challenged later.
Although not explicitly mentioned, the new sanctions framework will likely target the two fugitive oligarchs — Ilhan Shor and Vladimir Plahotniuc — named by Moldovan authorities for helping Russia’s operation, two EU diplomats said, according to Euractiv.
Shor is funding a pro-Russian populist party in Republic of Moldova called ȘOR, which has been organizing increasingly aggressive protests over the past year.
Plahotniuc and Shor are wanted men in Republic of Moldova after being accused of embezzling nearly €1 billion from its banks.
For the EU, it is a way to continue to target way to continue and target the Russians for their destabilization of the continent beyond the war in Ukraine and their actions there.