Minister of Internal Affairs: Extradition Process for Plahotniuc Initiated

Moldova’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Daniela Misail-Nicotine, announced that an official extradition procedure has been initiated for former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc, who was detained on the morning of July 22 at Athens Airport. “I confirm that he was detained at Athens Airport. The extradition procedure will be organized shortly, in accordance with international practice. Every Interpol member country follows the extradition protocol, and once an individual is detained, this mechanism is set in motion,” the minister stated, as reported by omniapres.md, citing moldova1.md. She clarified that it is currently impossible to predict the exact timeline for the extradition, as each case has its own legal and administrative specifics: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves with any scenarios. There is an established procedure that will be followed in accordance with national and international regulations.” In turn, the head of the General Police Inspectorate, Viorel Cernauteanu, stated that the detention took place at 4:30 a.m. Moldovan authorities are currently in contact with their Greek counterparts to exchange operational information. “We are still in the process of exchanging information with our colleagues in Greece. Additional details will be provided later,” Cernauteanu noted, adding that Plahotniuc was allegedly attempting to use Greece as a transit point on his way to Dubai. In response to a question about the possible involvement of Constantin Tutu, a former MP and associate of Plahotniuc, the head of the General Police Inspectorate stated that he could not provide specifics at this time, as “from a communication strategy and procedural standpoint, I cannot disclose such information publicly.” The coordination of procedural actions for the extradition will be handled by the criminal prosecution authority responsible for the case, in cooperation with the International Police Cooperation Department of the General Police Inspectorate.