The chairman of the Shor Party Ilan Shor said that he is not affected by the sanctions imposed on him by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). “The U.S. sanctions against me are a big victory as they show that Maia Sandu is terribly afraid of the future protests and she realizes that her end is near,” the politician said in a video reaction posted on his Facebook page, IPN reports.
Ilan Shor commented ironically on the situation in the county and on the energy prices, suggesting that the decisions announced by the U.S. authorities are an attempt to save the image of the President who, together with the ruling party, pushed the country towards profound crises.
He also had a message addressed to the U.S. Ambassador in Chisinau, whom he accused of interference in the country’s internal affairs. “Dear Mister Ambassador of the U.S. to Moldova, I respect you as an ambassador. As a politician, I tell you that the speech you gave yesterday locked as if the Moldovan citizens were at the kindergarten and a severe teacher or, to say it better, parent came because another child pulled his daughter’s braids. I remind you that you are not a teacher for the Moldovan citizens, but a guest. Consequently, your statements can be interpreted as interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova. But you don’t have the right to do this. That’s why I ask you a lot to be a decent guest and not to interfere where it is not your business,” stated Ilan Shor.
As to the sanctions, he said these are ridiculous as he travelled to the U.S. the last time when he was 7 or 8. He does not have property or bank accounts in the United States. Ilan Shor assured that he will continue to struggle to ensure a prosperous future for the Moldovan citizens. “Despite all the actions taken by Maia Sandu against me, I will go till the end and will remain faithful to my principles to improve the living conditions and to ensure a decent and prosperous life,” noted Ilan Shor.
U.S. Ambassador to Moldova Kent D. Logsdon on Thursday announced that sanctions were imposed by the United States against Moldovan oligarchs Vlad Plahotniuc and Ilan Shor, as well as against several entities and individuals associated with them, for actions related to systemic corruption and Kremlin-linked election interference. 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.