The National Anticorruption Center (NAC), in collaboration with the Chișinău Municipal Prosecutor’s Office, Main Branch, is conducting criminal proceedings in a case involving illegal financing of political parties, money laundering, and aggravated electoral bribery. This morning, NAC officers carried out searches in Chișinău, Orhei, and southern regions of the country. One individual was detained, with reasonable suspicion of involvement in the mentioned offenses, reports TRIBUNA.

Preliminary data indicates that the investigation targets an organized group composed of decision-makers, members, and sympathizers of certain political entities who, in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections on September 28, 2025, allegedly implemented a criminal scheme. This involved recruiting voters or political supporters by promising or offering money, goods, services, or other benefits to influence their voting behavior, including in favor of specific parties. Activities were coordinated via various apps, including multiple Telegram accounts.

Group members are suspected of transferring, converting, and concealing the origin of financial resources obtained from illicit sources, using bank accounts and electronic wallets, including from abroad. These funds were illegally introduced into Moldova and used to finance political activities in violation of legal provisions.

Electoral bribery is also being investigated, involving politically affiliated individuals identifying and recruiting voters by offering material incentives to influence their electoral choices.

Following the searches, significant amounts of money in various currencies, electronic data storage devices, handwritten notes, and other relevant evidence were discovered and seized, confirming involvement in voter bribery and illegal support of a political party.

The detained individual will be placed in the NAC’s pre-trial detention facility.

At this time, procedural actions are ongoing.

The NAC encourages citizens to report suspicious actions related to electoral bribery and reminds the public of two dedicated phone lines for reporting such incidents:

• NAC Hotline: +373 78 710 116 — available 24/7, including from abroad, via audio/video calls, SMS, and apps like Viber, Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp.
• National Anticorruption Line: 0800 55555 — toll-free within the Republic of Moldova.

According to the law, any person is presumed innocent until a final and irrevocable court decision is issued.