Moldova’s most notorious oligarch, Vladimir Plahotniuc, has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for his role in the country’s “theft of the century” — a $1 billion bank fraud that drained nearly 12% of Moldova’s GDP and plunged the nation into crisis.
Once the most powerful man in Moldovan politics, Plahotniuc fled in 2019 but was eventually captured and brought to trial. His conviction marks a watershed moment for a country long plagued by corruption, with assets worth $60 million seized and international sanctions reinforcing his downfall.
For Moldovans, this verdict is more than justice — it’s a symbol of hope that even the untouchable can finally be held accountable.
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