An on-the-run Moldovan oligarch accused of acting on behalf of Russia has been detained in Greece and police said Tuesday they would seek his extradition.

Vladimir Plahotniuc, who has been wanted since 2019, was one of two Moldovans detained in Greece, police said in a Telegram post.

The Greek news agency ANA said Plahotniuc, a former kingpin in the Democratic Party of Moldova, was arrested at the Athens airport under an Interpol international alert and was wanted for fraud, money laundering and criminal conspiracy.

Moldavan authorities said 59-year-old Plahotniuc was trying to get to Dubai.

Plahotniuc worked in business and finance before entering politics with the Democratic Party of Moldova. He fled the country in 2019 when facing several investigations, notably over the disappearance of about one billion dollars from three banks.

The European Union ordered sanctions against Plahotniuc last year, accusing him of seeking to destabilise the country ahead of its presidential election in September. He has also been sanctioned by US and British authorities.

Hailing the arrest, political analyst Valeriu Pasa said that Plahotniuc was suspected of involvement in Russian attempts “to destabilise the country”.

Source: AFP