• US sanctions are in an effort to fight Russian influence operations and corruption in Moldova.
• Russia considering “desperate steps” to prevent further loss of power.
• Moldovan ex-politician Vladimir Plahotniuc is one of those sanctioned by the US Treasury Department.

The Biden administration has imposed penalties on nine individuals and 12 organizations in an effort to fight Russian influence operations and corruption in Moldova. The US Treasury Department stated on Wednesday.

Russian agents are considering “increasingly desperate steps to prevent further loss of its power” as a result of the sanctions, which come as Russia “faces military setbacks and global condemnation over its barbaric actions in Ukraine,” according to the US Treasury department.

“The sanctions imposed today expose not only Russia’s covert strategy in Moldova, but also demonstrate how corruption undermines the rule of law,” said Brian E. Nelson, US under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence. “Russian influence operations attempt to exploit weaknesses in target countries in order to destabilize them from within. The United States continues to support Moldovan efforts to combat corruption and counter Russian influence.”

The US is “committed to supporting Moldova’s efforts to counter corruption, reform the justice system, strengthen the independence and transparency of its democratic institutions, and promote accountability for those attempting to undermine its democracy,” according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. According to Blinken, the US “will continue to hold accountable anyone threatening democracy abroad” in addition to the sanctions announced today.

Vladimir Plahotniuc, a former member of the Moldovan government and former elected leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, is one of those who have been sanctioned. According to the Treasury department, Plahotniuc kept control of the nation’s law enforcement agency to hunt down political and commercial adversaries.

lan Shor, leader of the Shor Party in Moldova, is also among those being sanctioned “for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in interference in a foreign government election, for or on behalf of, or for the direct or indirect benefit of the Government of the Russian Federation,” Blinken said.

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