Moldovan Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc Arrested in Greece

Moldovan oligarch and former leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Vladimir Plahotniuc, has been arrested in Greece. He was wanted by Interpol on a Red Notice for establishing a criminal organization, fraud, and money laundering.

The arrest occurred while Plahotniuc was traveling to Dubai. The Moldovan police announced that he was arrested along with former MP Constantin Țuțu.

Plahotniuc is wanted internationally for financial crimes, including the embezzlement of $1 billion from the Moldovan banking system between 2012 and 2014, known as the "theft of the century."

Despite extradition attempts by the United States and Turkey, he had remained at large. Interpol had issued a Red Notice against him. He allegedly held multiple passports, including Moldovan, Romanian, Russian, and a fake Mexican passport.

Vladimir Plahotniuc is considered one of the wealthiest and most controversial people in Moldova. He served as commercial director and general manager of Petrom Moldova. In 2010, he was elected first deputy speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, and in 2016, he took over the leadership of the PDM.

In 2019, after his party's defeat, he left Moldova and temporarily settled in the United States. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs accused him of involvement in an international criminal network and drug trafficking.