The United States on Friday announced sanctions against Marina Tauber for facilitating attempts by fugitive convicted oligarch Ilan Shor to subvert Moldova’s electoral processes on behalf of the Kremlin through illegal vote buying.
“Moldovans deserve free and fair democratic institutions and processes. And they deserve a future free from the grip of the Kremlin’s malign influence. The United States applauds Moldova’s progress on democratic and economic reforms. We will continue to support the people and government of Moldova to build a more democratic, prosperous, and secure future”, stated U.S. Ambassador Kent D. Logsdon in making the announcement.
President Maia Sandu took to X to thank the United States for taking “decisive action today against those undermining the integrity of our elections on behalf of the Kremlin through illicit vote buying”.
“Together, we stand strong against threats to our democratic values”, declared Sandu.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean also welcomed the measure: “Our partners’ support goes hand in hand with our continuous efforts to fight against fraud and protect democracy”.
Foreign minister Mihai Popșoi added for his part: “The U.S. sanctions play a crucial role in sustaining peace and stability in the region”.
To mark two years of Russia’s unprovoked and illegal war against Ukraine and in response to the death of the opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control extended sanctions against nearly 300 more persons and entities. Together with the actions of the U.S. Department of State, this is the largest number of sanctions imposed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
