TBILISI, September 25 – Moldova has secured the extradition from Greece of fugitive businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc, in order to face justice in one of the country’s biggest corruption scandals.
Local outlet Newsmaker reported that Plahotniuc was flown under guard on a direct flight from Athens to Chișinău on Wednesday. Moldova’s Justice Ministry confirmed he will be held in Chișinău’s No. 13 penitentiary.
Plahotniuc, once one of Moldova’s most powerful political and business figures, fled the country in 2019. He was arrested on July 22 at Athens airport while trying to board a flight to Dubai. Interpol had issued a Red Notice for him in February 2025.
The former politician faces charges tied to the so-called “theft of the century”; the disappearance of USD 1 billion from Moldova’s banking system in 2013. The sum represented around 12 percent of the country’s GDP at the time.
