UK sanctions pro-Russia network in Moldova over election interference

By William James

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Wednesday sanctioned what it described as a pro-Russian group responsible for attempting to rig a referendum in Moldova and destabilise its democracy, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Moldova was formerly a part of the Soviet Union, but its ties with Russia have deteriorated as the Moldovan government accelerates its push to integrate with the European Union.

The Moldovan government has accused Russia of seeking to delegitimise a presidential election, eventually won by pro-Western President Maia Sandu, and an October 20 referendum on targeting EU membership.

Russia has denied the allegations.

Wednesday's anti-corruption sanctions targeted Russia-based non governmental organisation Evrazia, imposing asset freezes and travel bans on the group, its founder Nelli Parutenco and board member Natalia Parasca.

Foreign minister David Lammy said that Britain would not ignore attempts to undermine democracy in countries it considered to be friends and partners.

"When dirty money flows freely, it erodes public trust, destabilises economies and enables malign actors to subvert the rule of law," Lammy told Reuters in a statement.

"By tackling these threats head-on, we're defending the foundations of democratic governance – institutions which citizens can trust and which hold those in power to account."

Britain has previously said Moscow was using disinformation, illicit financing and political subversion to degrade democracy in Moldova.

Britain's foreign office said the Evrazia network was operated by oligarch Ilan Shor. Shor, who lives in Russia was sanctioned by Britain in 2022 under anti-corruption regulations. Evrazia was sanctioned by the EU in October.

Moldova has said schemes, including one operated by Shor, sought to buy the votes of hundred of thousand of people. He denies wrongdoing.

The latest round of sanctions are part of a wider British campaign against corruption, which ministers see as crucial for national security. They also took aim at the issue in Guatemala and Georgia.

Britain sanctioned leaders of Georgia's 'Judicial Clan', which it described as "a group of party-political judges who are abusing their position to influence court rulings and undermine the rule of law" to benefit the Georgian Dream party.

In recent years, Georgian Dream has clamped down on opposition and steered the former Soviet republic closer to Russia again.

The Guatemala sanctions targeted officials it said had sought to undermine anti-corruption reforms of President Bernardo Arevalo.

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)