IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 896 
Recognizing the significance of the United States relationship with the Repub-
lic of Moldova and encouraging United States support for anti-corruption 
efforts and strengthening democratic institutions. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 
Mr. WEBER of Texas (for himself and Mr. FRANKS of Arizona) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and the 
Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the significance of the United States relationship 
with the Republic of Moldova and encouraging United 
States support for anti-corruption efforts and strength-
ening democratic institutions. 
Whereas the United States has enjoyed a bilateral relation-
ship with the Republic of Moldova since the Republic of 
Moldova’s independence in 1991; 
Whereas Moldova has been a valued and reliable partner in 
promoting global security by participating in United Na-
tions peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, 
Sudan, and Georgia; 
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Whereas since Moldova’s independence, the United States has 
provided financial assistance to support the people of 
Moldova’s efforts to build a prosperous European democ-
racy; 
Whereas over the past two and a half decades, the Depart-
ment of State, United States Agency for International 
Development (USAID), and the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation (MCC) have furnished over $1,400,000,000 
in assistance to Moldova, including $262,000,000 for a 5- 
year MCC compact for economic development and invest-
ment projects in irrigation infrastructure, high-value ag-
ricultural production, and road rehabilitation; 
Whereas the United States Government supports the demo-
cratic aspirations of the people of the Republic of 
Moldova; 
Whereas on the occasion of Moldova’s Independence Day on 
August 27, Secretary of State John Kerry, on behalf of 
the President and the people of the United States, said 
on August 25, 2016, that the United States stands 
‘‘squarely behind’’ Moldovan democratic reform as well as 
Moldova’s ‘‘efforts to strengthen the rule of law and fight 
corruption’’, its ‘‘desire to ensure greater prosperity and 
security for every citizen,’’ and that ‘‘today and in the 
years to come, we will continue to support the best inter-
ests and aspirations of the Moldovan people.’’; 
Whereas a resurgent and aggressive Russia is pursuing polit-
ical and economic warfare in the region, seeking to weak-
en the continent’s Eastern front by sowing discord and 
dissent whenever the opportunity presents itself; 
Whereas due in part to its strategic location, Moldova has de-
veloped into a legitimate player in the region, becoming 
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increasingly significant as Russia continues to violate 
borders and meddle in the internal affairs of its neigh-
bors; 
Whereas the theft of nearly $1,000,000,000 from 3 major 
banks in Moldova in 2014, much of which consisted of 
International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans, has exposed 
corruption at the highest levels of the Government of 
Moldova; 
Whereas as a result of this banking scandal and the widely 
acknowledged kleptocracy of a number of political lead-
ers, in recent months Moldova has witnessed anti-govern-
ment protests composed of hundreds of thousands of peo-
ple demanding snap elections and the government’s res-
ignation; 
Whereas it has been alleged by credible sources, including 
former senior Moldovan Government officials cooperating 
with the United States Government, and other whistle-
blowers with personal knowledge of the bank heist and 
organized criminal activity, that members of the current 
ruling party, including Vice-Chairman of the Moldovan 
Democratic 
Party 
and 
feared 
oligarch 
Vladimir 
Plahotniuc, participated in the laundering of these funds 
into Russian banks and off-shore shell companies; 
Whereas it is also believed that funds from Russia, including 
the infamous Magnitsky Affair, from Libya, and from 
Iraq, were laundered through Moldova as part of criminal 
schemes orchestrated by Plahotniuc and his accomplices; 
Whereas Plahotniuc, who despite holding no elected office is 
often described as Moldova’s ‘‘Puppeteer’’, has deep ties 
to Moscow including Russian officials that are strong 
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supporters of the Moldovan breakaway region of 
Transnistria; 
Whereas it is understood that United States law enforcement 
agencies have initiated investigations into the missing 
$1,000,000,000 from the National Bank of Moldova re-
serves as well as the possible fraudulent use of the 
United States banking system, with involvement by 
United States citizens, to launder money; and 
Whereas now, more than ever, the United States must show 
support for the rule of law, economic freedoms, trans-
parency and anti-corruption initiatives in Moldova: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls on the United States Government and 
the European Union to ensure that free and fair 
presidential elections are held in Moldova on October 
30, 2016; 
(2) encourages the President and the Depart-
ment of State to restrict assistance designated for 
Moldova to only justice sector reform, anti-corrup-
tion efforts, and strengthening democratic institu-
tions as long as corruption within the government 
ranks persist; 
(3) urges the Executive Branch agencies that 
have initiated investigations to pursue all available 
avenues to determine if the United States banking 
system, with involvement by United States citizens 
was used to launder money as part of the Moldovan 
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banking scandal, if United States taxpayer dollars in 
the form of IMF loans were directed to sanctioned 
entities; and what if any members of the Govern-
ment of Moldova, recipients of United States foreign 
aid, participated in, or benefitted from, the 2014 
bank heist, including Vladimir Plahotniuc; 
(4) calls on those Executive Branch agencies to 
report the results of those investigations to the 
United States Congress upon completion; 
(5) requests that, if as a result of said inves-
tigations, individuals or entities, including Vladimir 
Plahotniuc, Andrian Candu, the speaker of the 
Moldovan Parliament, Mihai Poalelungi, the chair-
man of the Moldovan Supreme Court of Justice; 
Eduard Harunjen, the acting Moldovan attorney 
general, Viorel Chetraru, the general director of 
Moldova’s National Anti-Corruption Center, Viorel 
Morari, the chief of Moldova’s Anti-Corruption Pros-
ecutor’s office, Vladimir Cebotari, Moldova’s Min-
ister of Justice, Alexandru Jizdan, Moldova’s Min-
ister of Internal Affairs, Serghei Iaralov, Ion Plesca, 
the President of Chisinau’s Court of Appeal, and 
Dorin Damir, the President of the Fighting and En-
tertainment Association of Moldova, are found to 
have participated in the laundering of funds from 
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entities or governments sanctioned by the United 
States, that the United States consider imposing 
sanctions on those individuals and entities to the ex-
tent that United States law allows, including the ban 
of travel to the United States, economic sanctions, 
and the freezing of assets; and 
(6) establish through legislation, or via the au-
thority given under Presidential Proclamation 7750, 
a list similar to the one created by the Magnitsky 
Act for Vladimir Plahotniuc and other government 
officials if they are found to have been involved in 
the abovementioned crimes. 
Æ 
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