Ilan Shor, a pro-Russian Moldovan businessman, has reportedly used $8 billion in cryptocurrency to support Russian efforts to evade sanctions and influence the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova, according to blockchain firm Elliptic. As the elections approach, Moldova faces increased Kremlin-backed disinformation campaigns. Shor’s companies, particularly linked to his A7 group, have received substantial stablecoin transactions for financing various operations, including an app for managing political activists.
Shor, previously convicted for embezzling $1 billion and currently residing in Russia, has been sanctioned by the U.S. for undermining democracy in Moldova. His political group, the pro-Russian Victory Bloc, aims to challenge President Maia Sandu’s pro-European party during the elections. The leaked documents reveal the extensive use of cryptocurrency, including Tether (USDT) and a ruble-backed coin, for funding pro-Russian activities.
In addition to financial tactics, the Kremlin has employed disinformation strategies to destabilize Sandu’s administration, involving recruitment of Moldovan citizens abroad to influence voting and orchestrating domestic protests. Recent investigations uncovered activities directly linking Shor to payoffs for spreading propaganda and manipulating public opinion, amplifying concerns about disinformation and foreign interference in the electoral process.
