Moldovan Oligarch Offers Money for Votes Against EU Integration

Moldovan officials urged voters not to be persuaded by fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor’s promises to pay people who recruit others to vote against EU integration in October’s referendum.

Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spinu on Sunday evening urged voters not to give in to electoral bribery schemes set up by “thieves, fugitives and bandits” after the oligarch Ilan Shor promised to pay people who convince others to cast ‘no’ votes in the upcoming referendum on European integration.

Spinu wrote on Facebook that this was an attempt “to buy votes, to buy people”, and to “spread lies about the European Union” ahead of the October 20 referendum, which will be held simultaneously with a presidential election.

Shor, who is a fugitive from justice after being sentenced to 15 years in prison in the ‘Grand Theft’ case involving the theft of one billion US dollars from Moldova’s banking system, is living in Moscow.

He issued his offer via Telegram at the weekend, promising money to people who would “convince as many people as possible at their polling station” to vote ‘no’ in the referendum.

He launched a chatbot on Telegram to register people and assign them “tasks”.

In addition to 500 lei [25 euros] for registration, Shor’s team is promising “2,000 lei [100 euros] for fulfilling the minimum tasks” and “5,000 lei [250 euros] – if in your polling station, the majority are against the EU and choose our candidate [in the presidential election]”, he said.

“The referendum will decide our common future… The only option is to come and vote ‘no’,” Shor wrote.

“I want to hire people, ambassadors of Ilan Shor, in the matter of the referendum. For that, you have to register with our chatbot,” he added.

Several candidates in the presidential race are suspected of having connections to Shor.

According to Moldova’s Information and Security Service, SIS, a criminal group led by Shor has received substantial funds from Moscow and is attempting to derail Moldova’s European course.

The authorities also accused Shor and his network of electoral fraud last year. Prosecutors have already sent cases to court against Shor for alleged offering of electoral bribes and fraud in the southern region of Gagauzia at elections for governor in April to May 2023 and local elections in November 2023.

In July 2024, Moldova tightened sanctions for voters who accept money, products or services to favour or reject a specific electoral candidate, with fines ranging from 1,300 to 2,000 euros.

Deputy Prime Minister Spinu urged in his Facebook post: “We are a people with dignity. Moldovans do not sell themselves… If you observe such situations, notify the police immediately by calling 112.”/balkaninsight/