Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor are among the designations by the UK government for its recent sanctions package. The individuals are subject to an asset freeze and travel ban, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița told a news conference.

An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, IPN reports.

“This is one more blow given with the support of our partners to the “grouping for stealing and war” and a very clear signal: those who robbed the country will end up where they belong, in jail. These measures also refer to justice and to the recovery of assets from criminals for the people who work hard in this country and who actually earned this money,” noted the official.

Premier Gavrilița said a law that allows convicting the fugitives in absentia was adopted and the thieves who fled Moldova will no longer be able to abscond from justice. After they are convicted, the authorities will be able to confiscate their assets, including those hidden at their relatives, and to return the money to the people.

At the end of October, Vlad Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor and persons close to them were put on the U.S. sanctions list. The sanctions prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons – and any other transactions within or transiting the United States – that involve any property or interests in property of the sanctioned individuals. Plahotniuc, Shor, and the other individuals put on the sanctions list will also be ineligible to enter the United States as immigrants or non-immigrants.