Shor extradition stalled: No response from authorities
The authorities in Chisinau have not yet received a response regarding the extradition request for Ilan Shor. The procedure is still pending, and there is no clear deadline for resolution since international conventions do not specify a timeframe. This was stated by the Minister of Justice, Vladislav Cojuhari, during the "In Context" show on Moldova 1.
"I assure you that the Republic of Moldova has strictly followed the procedure in full compliance with European standards, and at this stage, we are awaiting an official response. We have submitted an extradition request, including the complete file and relevant materials. However, we are waiting, according to procedure, for a reaction from the respective institution," the minister stated.
He reiterated that the procedure's duration depends on the counterpart institution in the country where the individual is currently located, without specifying Ilan Shor's exact whereabouts.
At the same time, Vladislav Cojuhari assured that the Ministry of Justice will continue to follow all legal procedures in this case.
"We, as the institution responsible for this procedure, must ensure that we utilize all the instruments at our disposal and, most importantly, that we act in strict accordance with the law and the international agreements and conventions to which the Republic of Moldova is a party. I firmly believe that the truth always prevails", the minister stated.
Ilan Shor is a businessman and former politician, born in 1987, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the "billion dollar theft," a fraud scheme that siphoned over a billion dollars from the Moldovan banking system. He fled Moldova in 2019 and, after spending several years in Israel, settled in Moscow, where he obtained citizenship and political protection.
Shor is sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom due to his involvement in influence operations that favor Russia. These activities include illegal party financing, voter corruption, organized protests, and efforts to destabilize electoral processes in Moldova.
According to the Intelligence and Security Service, Shor operates a network of satellite parties, NGOs, influencers, and media outlets from Moscow, targeting the upcoming elections in 2024 and 2025, as well as the referendum on EU accession.
This network is viewed as part of a Russian hybrid war against the Republic of Moldova, with funding exceeding 400 million euros in 2025 alone. It combines opaque financing, cryptocurrencies, disinformation campaigns, and clandestine operations.
