Canada has imposed sanctions on sixteen individuals and two legal entities “for their role in Russia’s malign interference activities in Moldova.” All those who have been sanctioned are associated with politician and businessman Ilan Shor*, who is under Canadian sanctions and fled Moldova to Russia.
Some of those who have been sanctioned are already under EU sanctions. Among them are the head of the Anti-terrorist operation of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutul, Deputy Bashkan and media relations adviser Mikhail Vlakh and the organization Scutul Poporului (“People’s Shield”). Canada’s sanctions also affected the former head of Gagauzia, Irina Vlah, and the Victory political bloc created by Ilan Shor.
The full list of those sanctioned: Evgenia Gutul, Mikhail Vlah, Irina Vlah, Iurii Cuznetov, Ilia Uzun, Victor Petrov, Nelli Parutenco, Natalia Parasca, Dumitru Chitoroagă, Dmitri Buimistru, Alexey Lungu, Veaceslav Valico, Victoria Furtună, Irina Lozovan, Alexander Nesterovschi, Chiril Guzun, Victory/Pobeda Political Bloc, Public Association – Association of People with Epaulettes “Scutul Poporului”.
Reference. Ilan Shor left Moldova amid criminal prosecution: in 2017, he was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of withdrawing $1 billion through the Moldovan banking system. The businessman holds Israeli and Russian citizenship.
