Former Democratic MP Vladimir Andronachi was declared undesirable in Ukraine and was expelled from the neighboring state. As a result, the businessman was arrested at the Criva-Mamalîga border crossing point on Wednesday morning, the chief of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office Veronica Dragalin stated in a press briefing, IPN reports.
“We do not yet have all the official details but we realize that the decision to expel him was based on two factors. Firstly, it is known that Vladimir Andronachi is associated with Vlad Plahotniuc, who last week was put on the U.S. sanctions list for his role in systemic corruption in the Republic of Moldova. Secondly, given the state of war, the Ukrainian authorities pursue a particular policy with regard to foreigners who enter their country,” stated Veronica Dragalin.
According to her, Vladimir Andronachi is considered to be close to the ex-leader of the Democratic Party Vlad Plahotniuc. He is featured in a number of distinct criminal cases, including two cases that are generically called “bank fraud” and “Metalferos”. The first case is handled by the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, while the second one is dealt with by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases. “According to official data of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Andronachi left the country on July 5, 2021. On September 21, 2021, the APO obtained a warrant for his arrest for 30 days from the Ciocana Office of the Chisinau Court in the “bank fraud” case. In this case, the ex-MP is accused of swindle and money laundering,” stated the official.
On September 23, 2021, the Republic of Moldova requested Interpol to issue a Red Notice against Vladimir Andronachi. Consequently, the former MP was put on the wanted list in July 2022.
Octavian Yakimovski, anticorruption prosecutor in charge of the “bank fraud” case, said that Vladimir Andronachi is accused of considerable swindle and money laundering in the interests of a criminal organization. The ex-MP is to be indicted. He will be later escorted to the examining magistrate for being familiarized with the arrest warrant that will be valid for 30 days as from today.
