Former deputy Viorel Melnic has been sent to trial in a case involving illegal financing of political parties and money laundering. According to law enforcement, he allegedly acted unofficially in the interest of the formations from the political bloc “Victorie/Pobeda”, affiliated with the fugitive Ilan Shor, reports IPN.

According to the Anti-Corruption Prosecution, during the period of July-September 2025, he allegedly received, in installments, 300 thousand lei, 70 thousand euros, and 100 thousand dollars, totaling approximately 3.33 million lei. Subsequently, the money would have been transferred to other people for financing the activities of the political bloc.

PA mentions that a portion of the financial resources would have been used for promoting the image of the block, including for the renovation of a football stadium in the city of Orhei and for the renovation and reconstruction of block courtyards in localities in the south of the country. Moreover, the money would have also been allocated to support a candidate in the parliamentary elections of September 28, 2025, and participation in meetings and rallies.

Prosecutors claim that a portion of the money would have been transferred and converted, including through the use of the cryptocurrency USDT, by a person acting on behalf of Ilan Shor. As part of the criminal case, a seizure was applied to financial means that cover the total value of the alleged illegal financing. The case was sent to the Chisinau Court, Buiucani headquarters, for substantive examination.

Viorel Melnic entered Parliament following the February 2019 elections, in which he ran as an independent candidate in constituency No. 48 Transnistria-South. In July 2019, a few months after taking office, he resigned from Parliament.