Greek authorities have arrested fugitive Moldovan oligarch and former political leader Vlad Plahotniuc at Athens International Airport. Plahotniuc, who was attempting to travel to Dubai, was taken into custody alongside a close associate and former Moldovan MP, Konstantin Tsiutsiu.
The arrest was made on Tuesday afternoon at the “Eleftherios Venizelos” airport, with support from Interpol’s Greek division. According to an announcement from the Hellenic Police, Plahotniuc was wanted under a Red Notice issued by Interpol, facing charges of organized crime, fraud, and money laundering.
Interpol Cooperation Leads to Arrest
The Moldovan Police confirmed that Interpol’s office in Athens officially notified them of the arrest of two Moldovan nationals. NewsMaker reported that the second individual detained was Konstantin Tsiutsiu, a former parliamentarian and longtime associate of Plahotniuc. However, Moldovan Police Chief Viorel Cernăuțanu publicly confirmed only Plahotniuc’s arrest.
The Moldovan Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor General’s Office are now preparing the extradition process for both men.
Political Ties and Criminal Allegations
Plahotniuc was the leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, which held power from 2016 to 2019 and also participated in the 2009 government. He fled the country in June 2019 after his party lost power and has since been implicated in several criminal investigations.
Among the most serious accusations is his involvement in a 2014 banking scandal that saw $1 billion disappear from Moldovan banks. He is also under investigation for allegedly attempting to bribe Moldova’s former president, Igor Dodon, with a bag full of cash in exchange for political favors. Dodon denies the allegations.
Four Nationalities and Fake Documents
Interpol lists Plahotniuc as holding four nationalities, including Romanian. In 2024, he reportedly obtained Mexican identification documents. However, an investigation by Chișinău-based newspaper ZdG revealed in March that these documents were fake. According to the report, the forged paperwork was sent from Mexico by a local citizen to a young Russian woman named Irina Ustina, who resides in Dubai.
