The paramilitary group hunted down in northern Moldova intended to recruit 300 persons and to then attack the Balti military unit in order to arm themselves. According to the police, the group intended to free 400 detainees from the Balti-based penitentiary so as to engage these in their activities, IPN reports.
The group consisted of 13 persons aged between 20 and 47 from the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti. These were arrested for creating and managing an illegal group. Six of the members have a criminal record and committed robberies, trafficking in persons and other serious offenses. Three of the 13 detainees have dual nationality, of Moldova and Ukraine or of Russia.
According to the police, the group was to attack the Police Inspectorate and the Carabineer Unit in Balti and then to rob businessmen and bring factories working in the northern districts under control.
The deputy head of the General Police Inspectorate Gheorghe Cavcaliuc said this group examined the activity of the police force in connection with the protests mounted in Chisinau.
“This group intended to stage activities that could end with massacre. The group members planned to bring Balti municipality under control and then the northern region of the country and to go towards the municipality of Chisinau afterward. These wanted to subdue the whole country and to name their politicians and managers of their own state (...) This was to be done by the scenario used in Ukraine’s Donbas,” stated Cavcaliuc.
During searches, the police and prosecutors identified, among others, armament, drugs, brochures inciting violence, military uniforms, maps and foreign currency.
The group members are investigated for organizing an illegal group, illegal keeping and bearing of arms and calls to arms to stage a coup and remove the government and face up to 20 years in jail or life.
