Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1242 of 26 April 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova
Date: 2024-04-26
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Moldova, economic sanctions, international sanctions, natural person








L_202401242EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2024/1242


29.4.2024







            COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2024/1242
         
of 26 April 2024
         
amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,


Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:







(1)


On 28 April 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 (1).












(2)


The Union remains unwavering in its support for the Republic of Moldova and its resilience, security, stability, economy and energy supply in the face of destabilising activities by external actors.












(3)


On the basis of a review of Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 and in view of the continuing threat to democracy and the rule of law, as well as to the stability and security of the Republic of Moldova, the restrictive measures in place should be renewed until 29 April 2025.












(4)


Based on updated information the entries for five persons included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 should be amended.












(5)


Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 is amended as follows:






(1)


in Article 8, the first paragraph is replaced by the following:

                              ‘This Decision shall apply until 29 April 2025.’;










(2)


the Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.






Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




Done at Brussels, 26 April 2024.


For the Council


The President

H. LAHBIB
            





(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 of 28 April 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova (OJ L 114, 2.5.2023, p. 15).




ANNEX
In the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2023/891, in Section ‘A. Natural persons’, entries 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 are replaced by the following:










 


Name


Identifying information


Statement of Reasons


Date of listing




‘1.


Ilan Mironovich SHOR
a.k.a.
Ilan Mironovici ȘOR


Function: businessman, president of the political party “SHOR” (“ȘOR”)
DOB: 6.3.1987
POB: Tel Aviv, Israel
Gender: male
Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Israeli
State Identification Number (IDNP): 0971007884125 (Republic of Moldova)


Ilan Shor is a Moldovan politician (leader of the ȘOR Political Party) and businessman from the Republic of Moldova who is involved in the illegal financing of political parties in the Republic of Moldova and in incitement to violence against the political opposition. Before being declared unconstitutional in June 2023, the ȘOR Party, which Ilan Shor leads, was involved in the payment and training of persons in order to provoke disorder and unrest during the protests in the Republic of Moldova.
By a decision dated 13 April 2023, the Court of Appeal of Chişinău sentenced Ilan Shor for being guilty of fraud and money laundering in the “Bank Fraud” case to 15 years of imprisonment and the confiscation of assets for a value of EUR 254 million. Funds from this large-scale banking fraud and connections to corrupt oligarchs and Moscow-based entities have been and are still being used, according to authorities of the Republic of Moldova, to artificially create political unrest in the country.
His actions directed towards subverting democracy in the Republic of Moldova include providing illegal funding to support pro-Kremlin political activity in the Republic of Moldova. An example of the use of such funds is the organisation of violent protests and rallies, primarily in the capital Chişinău, with the help of protestors paid by the ȘOR Party, throughout 2022 and 2023. After the ȘOR Party was declared unconstitutional, Ilan Shor continued to facilitate Russian influence on the political scene of the Republic of Moldova by illegally financing other parties and attempting to bribe politicians.
By directing and planning violent demonstrations and through his serious financial misconduct concerning public funds and the unauthorised export of capital, Ilan Shor is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and the democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova.


30.5.2023




2.


Gheorghe Petru CAVCALIUC


Function: politician, president of the political party “Building Europe at Home Party” (PACE)
former Deputy Head of the General Police Inspectorate
DOB: 25.10.1982
POB: Micăuți village, Strășeni county, Republic of Moldova
Gender: male
Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Romanian
State Identification Number (IDNP): 2000033042660 (Republic of Moldova)
Passport no: AB0664715 (Republic of Moldova)
058117566 (Romania)


Gheorghe Petru Cavcaliuc is the former Deputy Head of the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova. He is known for having organised and participated in the violent protests of October 2022, alongside Ilan Shor. He has used his connections within the General Police Inspectorate to recruit former police officers and create a paramilitary group to “protect” the violent demonstrators against the Government of the Republic of Moldova. In this context, he has founded a so-called “shadow government” with the aim of replacing the democratically elected government of the Republic of Moldova.
By directing and planning violent demonstrations, Gheorghe Cavcaliuc is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and the democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova.


30.5.2023




5.


Vladimir Gheorghe PLAHOTNIUC
a.k.a. Vladimir ULINICI
a.k.a. Vladimir PLAKHOTNYUK
a.k.a. Vladislav Vladimir NOVAK
(Владимир (Влад) Георгиевич ПЛАХОТНЮК)


Function: businessman, politician
DOB: 1.1.1966 or 25.12.1965
POB: Pitușca, Călărași, former USSR (now Republic of Moldova)
Gender: male
Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Romanian, Russian
State Identification Number (IDNP): 0962706018030 (Republic of Moldova)
Passport no: AB 0671328; AA 1203658 (Republic of Moldova)


Vladimir Plahotniuc is subject to numerous criminal proceedings in the Republic of Moldova related to crimes in connection with the embezzlement of State funds of the Republic of Moldova and their illegal transfer outside the Republic of Moldova. He was accused in the Republic of Moldova in the “Bank Fraud” case, the economic effects of which are still affecting the country. He is also being investigated for bribing the former president of the Republic of Moldova with a bag of cash in exchange for political favours.
Through his serious financial misconduct concerning public funds and the unauthorised export of capital and undermining the democratic political process in the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Plahotniuc is responsible for actions and implementing policies which undermine and threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in the Republic of Moldova.


30.5.2023




6.


Chiril GUZUN


Former border police officer and the current leader of a paramilitary group, “SCUTUL POPORULUI”
DOB: 27.4.1979
POB: Ratus, Criuleni, SSR Moldova
Gender: male
Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Romanian


Chiril Guzun is the founder and current leader of the “Scutul Poporului”, a paramilitary organisation in the Republic of Moldova, including former military, police and law-enforcement personnel, which uses violence while attending protests, particularly to destabilise the Republic of Moldova. During the attempts of February 2023 to destabilise the national government, groups of protesters affiliated to the subsequently-banned “Partidul ȘOR” and to the Building Europe at Home Party, “Partidul Acasă Construim Europa” (PACE) were supported and surrounded by members of the “Scutul Poporului”, who were involved in riots and violent demonstrations.
Chiril Guzun is also a long-time acquaintance of Gheorghe Cavcaliuc, a listed person and the leader of the “PACE” party. Cavcaliuc admitted to coordinating with Chiril Guzun’s organisation regarding the violent protests. In addition, Natalia Guzun, the wife of Chiril Guzun, is vice-president of the “PACE” party.
In the role of “Scutul Poporului” leader, by directing, engaging in and supporting violent demonstrations, Chiril Guzun is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, Chiril Guzun is associated with Gheorghe Cavcaliuc and “Scutul Poporului”.


22.2.2024




7.


Dmitry MILYUTIN
(Дмитрий Милютин)


Deputy head of the Department of Operational Intelligence of Directorate 5, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)
DOB: 30.5.1967
POB: Ijevsk, USSR (now Russian Federation)
Gender: male
Nationality: Russian
ID Card Number: 0134180


Dmitry Milyutin is the Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)’s Department of Operational Intelligence, responsible for Russia’s covert operations in the Republic of Moldova since 2016, especially in the Transnistria region, destabilising the constitutional order. Through his operatives, Milyutin directs, coordinates and manipulates chosen political actors in the Republic of Moldova in order to pursue pro-Russian agendas, thus undermining the democratic political process in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, Milyutin’s group is involved in organising violent protests and other acts of violence taking place in the Republic of Moldova.
By seriously undermining the democratic political process, attempting to destabilise the constitutional order, and by facilitating violent demonstrations and other acts of violence, Dmitry Milyutin is supporting actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence, democracy, rule of law, stability and security of the Republic of Moldova. He is also associated with the listed person Igor Chaika.


22.2.2024’.








ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1242/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)