Greece to extradite tycoon Plahotniuc to Moldova on Thursday

ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece plans to extradite former politician and businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc to Moldova on Thursday to face charges over a $1 billion theft from the banking system, days before the country holds a sensitive election, the Moldovan government and a Greek legal source said.

A Greek court in August ruled in favour of the extradition in the case known as the "theft of the century" in Moldova, but the Greek justice ministry had briefly paused the move, irritating Moldova's pro-European government which has pledged to fight corruption and has accused Moscow of election meddling.

"Even if he (Plahotniuc) hopes that after the elections Moldova will fall into the hands of Russia and he will be able to come home freely, the institutions must bring him home in handcuffs," Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said in a September 17 statement.

Plahotniuc has denied any wrongdoing, saying allegations against him were based on "slander and political hatred."

EXTRADITION EXPECTED ON THURSDAY

Plahotniuc is the chief suspect in connection with the disappearance in 2014 of $1 billion - a sum which then equalled roughly 12% of Moldova's GDP.

Before fleeing Moldova in 2019, he was the leader of the Democratic party, part of the governing coalition in 2016-2019 and served as deputy speaker of parliament. While in office, he wielded great influence over institutions.

He is expected to leave Greece on Thursday morning, a Greek legal source said. Documents reviewed by Reuters show the ministry approved his return to Moldova late last week.

The Moldovan government confirmed Plahotniuc's expected arrival on Thursday.

In 2023, the EU imposed sanctions on Plahotniuc and six others for actions that it said destabilised and undermined the territorial integrity of Moldova and fellow ex-Soviet state Ukraine.

According to Greek police, Plahotniuc, 59, has lived in 22 countries since 2023. They arrested him at Athens airport after he had boarded a plane to Dubai, acting on an Interpol notice which states that he held 16 passports, including from Romania, Mexico and Russia.

Russia, which says it wants Plahotniuc extradited there to face drugs-related charges, denies interfering in Moldova's affairs.

(Additional reporting by Alexander Tanas; Writing by Renee Maltezou; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Ros Russell)