Russian Bribes Target EU via German-Uzbek Gate

A genuine political and financial war was waged against the Republic of Moldova by intermediaries in 2023 and 2024. The stakes were enormous: the country's strategic orientation - either towards the European Union or the Russian Federation. Tens of millions of euros were transferred from Russia to Moldova via Ilan Șor, a Moldovan politician and Moscow’s main proxy, to bribe voters.

The targets were the referendum on Moldova’s integration into the EU and the presidential elections. Following the outlawing of Ilan Şor’s party in 2023, and the subsequent restrictions on financial transfers from Russia due to international sanctions, Kremlin intermediaries sought alternative methods to channel substantial funds into Moldova with the aim of influencing voters against the EU. Enter the authoritarian state of Uzbekistan: a private company backed by the Tashkent authorities facilitated financial transfers from anonymous donors to bank accounts in Gagauzia, a Moldovan region formerly led by Evghenia Guțul, a staunch Putin supporter. This company collaborated with an Uzbek bank in which the German state holds shares via the investment vehicle DEG.

Photo credit: Viorica Tatar