The former Moldovan oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, recently arrested in Greece, allegedly made secret visits to Moscow using a forged passport issued in the name “Mikhail Taushanov”, The Insider reports with reference to flight data and documents obtained, cited by IPN.
According to the source, despite being wanted internationally for his involvement in the money laundering scheme known as “laundromat”, Vladimir Plahotniuc was allegedly received at a high level in the Kremlin and held direct negotiations with the deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, Dmitry Kozak.
The Insider writes with reference to phone intercepts that the deputy head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Dmitry Kozak, has been negotiating with Vladimir Plahotniuc since June 2024 on his return to the political scene in Moldova. The Kremlin was banking on the former Democratic leader’s influence and resources to strengthen its position ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary elections.
Vladimir Plahotniuc’s last visit to Moscow, under the false identity “Mikhail Taushanov”, would have taken place at the end of April 2025.
After the arrest of Vladimir Plahotniuc in Athens, the Greek authorities discovered in his villa in Greece no less than 17 fake passports and identity cards issued by various countries, including Ukraine, Russia and Bulgaria. One of them, issued in the name of “Mikhail Taushanov”, born on February 22, 1962, was allegedly used by the oligarch to enter the Russian Federation.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, Vladimir Plahotniuc was detained in Athens on July 22. The day after the arrest warrant was issued for Plahotniuc, the authorities in Chisinau sent the extradition request to the Greek Ministry of Justice. The request is based on charges of fraud and money laundering in aggravating circumstances, as well as constituting and directing a criminal organization. On July 29, Plahotniuc consented to extradition to the Republic of Moldova.
