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Geconsolideerde tekst: Council Regulation (EU) 2023/888 of 28 April 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova

Naar de oorspronkelijke rechtshandeling

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Juridische status van het document Van kracht

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14/10/2024

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/888/2024-10-14

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02023R0888 — EN — 14.10.2024 — 005.001

This text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. The Union's institutions do not assume any liability for its contents. The authentic versions of the relevant acts, including their preambles, are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union and available in EUR-Lex. Those official texts are directly accessible through the links embedded in this document

►B	COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2023/888 of 28 April 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova (OJ L 114 2.5.2023, p. 1)

Amended by:

		Official Journal
		No	page	date
►M1	COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2023/1045 of 30 May 2023	L 140I	1	30.5.2023
►M2	COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/739 of 22 February 2024	L 739	1	22.2.2024
►M3	COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/1243 of 26 April 2024	L 1243	1	29.4.2024
►M4	COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/2465 of 10 September 2024	L 2465	1	12.9.2024
►M5	COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2024/2700 of 14 October 2024	L 2700	1	14.10.2024

Corrected by:

C1	Corrigendum, OJ L 90185, 18.12.2023, p. 1 ((EU) 2023/1045)

▼B

COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2023/888

of 28 April 2023

concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova

Article 1

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(a)

‘claim’ means any claim, whether asserted by legal proceedings or not, made before or after the date of entry into force of this Regulation, under or in connection with a contract or transaction, and in particular:

(i)

a claim for performance of any obligation arising under or in connection with a contract or transaction;

(ii)

a claim for extension or payment of a bond, financial guarantee or indemnity of whatever form;

(iii)

a claim for compensation in respect of a contract or transaction;

(iv)

a counterclaim;

(v)

a claim for the recognition or enforcement, including by the procedure of exequatur, of a judgment, an arbitration award or an equivalent decision, wherever made or given;

(b)

‘contract or transaction’ means any transaction of whatever form and whatever the applicable law, whether comprising one or more contracts or similar obligations made between the same or different parties; for this purpose ‘contract’ includes a bond, guarantee or indemnity, particularly a financial guarantee or financial indemnity, and credit, whether legally independent or not, as well as any related provision arising under, or in connection with, the transaction;

(c)

‘competent authorities’ means the competent authorities of the Member States as identified on the websites listed in Annex II;

(d)

‘economic resources’ means assets of every kind, whether tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, which are not funds, but may be used to obtain funds, goods or services;

(e)

‘freezing of economic resources’ means preventing the use of economic resources to obtain funds, goods or services in any way, including, but not limited to, by selling, hiring or mortgaging them;

(f)

‘freezing of funds’ means preventing any move, transfer, alteration, use of, access to, or dealing with funds in any way that would result in any change in their volume, amount, location, ownership, possession, character, destination or other change that would enable the funds to be used, including portfolio management;

(g)

‘funds’ means financial assets and benefit of every kind, including, but not limited to:

(i)

cash, cheques, claims on money, drafts, money orders and other payment instruments;

(ii)

deposits with financial institutions or other entities, balances on accounts, debts and debt obligations;

(iii)

publicly and privately-traded securities and debt instruments, including stocks and shares, certificates representing securities, bonds, notes, warrants, debentures and derivatives contracts;

(iv)

interest, dividends or other income on or value accruing from or generated by assets;

(v)

credit, right of set-off, guarantees, performance bonds or other financial commitments;

(vi)

letters of credit, bills of lading, bills of sale;

(vii)

documents showing evidence of an interest in funds or financial resources;

(h)

‘territory of the Union’ means the territories of the Member States to which the Treaty is applicable, under the conditions laid down in the Treaty, including their airspace.

Article 2

All funds and economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled by any natural or legal person, entity or body as listed in Annex I shall be frozen.

No funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex I.

Annex I shall include:

(a)

natural or legal persons, entities or bodies responsible for, supporting or implementing actions or policies which undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, or democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in the Republic of Moldova, through any of the following actions:

(i)

obstructing or undermining the democratic political process, including by obstructing or seriously undermining the holding of elections or attempting to destabilise or overthrow the constitutional order;

(ii)

planning, directing, engaging in, directly or indirectly, supporting or otherwise facilitating violent demonstrations or other acts of violence; or

(iii)

serious financial misconduct concerning public funds and the unauthorised export of capital;

(b)

natural or legal persons, entities or bodies, who are associated with the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies designated under point (a).

Article 3

By way of derogation from Article 2, the competent authorities may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, after having determined that the funds or economic resources concerned are:

(a)

necessary to satisfy the basic needs of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex I, and dependent family members of such natural persons, including payments for food, rent or mortgage, medicines and medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums, and public utility charges;

(b)

intended exclusively for the payment of reasonable professional fees or the reimbursement of incurred expenses associated with the provision of legal services;

(c)

intended exclusively for the payment of fees or service charges for the routine holding or maintenance of frozen funds or economic resources;

(d)

necessary for extraordinary expenses, provided that the relevant competent authority has notified the competent authorities of the other Member States and the Commission of the grounds on which it considers that a specific authorisation should be granted, at least two weeks prior to the authorisation; or

(e)

to be paid into or from an account of a diplomatic or consular mission or an international organisation enjoying immunities in accordance with international law, insofar as such payments are intended to be used for official purposes of the diplomatic or consular mission or international organisation.

The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraph 1 within two weeks of the authorisation.

Article 4

Article 2(2) shall not apply to funds or economic resources made available by organisations and agencies which are pillar-assessed by the Union and with which the Union has signed a financial framework partnership agreement on the basis of which the organisations and agencies act as humanitarian partners of the Union, provided that the provision of such funds or economic resources is necessary for exclusively humanitarian purposes in the Republic of Moldova.

In cases not covered by paragraph 1 of this Article, and by way of derogation from Article 2, the competent authorities may grant specific or general authorisations, under such general or specific conditions as they deem appropriate, to release certain frozen funds or economic resources or to make available certain funds or economic resources, provided that the provision of such funds or economic resources is necessary for exclusively humanitarian purposes in the Republic of Moldova.

In the absence of a negative decision, a request for information or a notification for additional time from the competent authority within 5 working days of the date of receipt of a request for authorisation under paragraph 2, the authorisation shall be considered granted.

The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraphs 2 and 3 within 2 weeks of the authorisation.

Article 5

By way of derogation from Article 2(1), the competent authorities may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, if the following conditions are met:

(a)

the funds or economic resources are the subject of an arbitral decision rendered prior to the date on which the natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in Article 2 was listed in Annex I, or of a judicial or administrative decision rendered in the Union, or a judicial decision enforceable in the Member State concerned, prior to or after that date;

(b)

the funds or economic resources will be used exclusively to satisfy claims secured by such a decision or recognised as valid in such a decision, within the limits set by applicable laws and regulations governing the rights of persons having such claims;

(c)

the decision is not for the benefit of a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I; and

(d)

recognition of the decision is not contrary to public policy in the Member State concerned.

The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraph 1 within two weeks of the authorisation.

Article 6

By way of derogation from Article 2(1) and provided that a payment by a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I is due under a contract or agreement that was concluded by, or an obligation that arose for, the natural or legal person, entity or body concerned, before the date on which that natural or legal person, entity or body was included in Annex I, the competent authorities may authorise, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, provided that the competent authority concerned has determined that:

(a)

the funds or economic resources will be used for a payment by a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex I; and

(b)

the payment is not in breach of Article 2(2).

The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under paragraph 1 within two weeks of the authorisation.

Article 7

Article 2(2) shall not prevent the crediting of frozen accounts by financial or credit institutions that receive funds transferred by third parties onto the account of a listed natural or legal person, entity or body, provided that any additions to such accounts will also be frozen. The financial or credit institution shall inform the relevant competent authority about any such transaction without delay.

Article 2(2) shall not apply to the addition to frozen accounts of:

(a)

interest or other earnings on those accounts;

(b)

payments due under contracts, agreements or obligations that were concluded or arose before the date on which the natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in Article 2 was included in Annex I; or

(c)

payments due under judicial, administrative or arbitral decisions rendered in a Member State or enforceable in the Member State concerned,

provided that any such interest, other earnings and payments are frozen in accordance with Article 2(1).

Article 8

Without prejudice to the applicable rules concerning reporting, confidentiality and professional secrecy, natural and legal persons, entities and bodies shall:

(a)

supply immediately any information which would facilitate compliance with this Regulation, such as information on accounts and amounts frozen in accordance with Article 2(1), to the competent authority of the Member State where they are resident or located, and transmit such information, directly or through the Member State, to the Commission; and

(b)

cooperate with the competent authority in any verification of the information referred to in point (a).

Any additional information received directly by the Commission shall be made available to the Member States.

Any information provided or received in accordance with this Article shall be used only for the purposes for which it was provided or received.

Article 9

It shall be prohibited to participate, knowingly and intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is to circumvent the measures referred to in Article 2.

Article 10

The freezing of funds and economic resources, or the refusal to make funds or economic resources available, carried out in good faith on the basis that such action is in accordance with this Regulation, shall not give rise to liability of any kind on the part of the natural or legal person or entity or body implementing it, or its directors or employees, unless it is proved that the funds and economic resources were frozen or withheld as a result of negligence.

Actions by natural or legal persons, entities or bodies shall not give rise to any liability of any kind on their part if they did not know, and had no reasonable cause to suspect, that their actions would infringe the measures set out in this Regulation.

Article 11

No claims in connection with any contract or transaction the performance of which has been affected, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the measures imposed under this Regulation, including claims for indemnity or any other claim of this type, such as a claim for compensation or a claim under a guarantee, notably a claim for extension or payment of a bond, guarantee or indemnity, particularly a financial guarantee or financial indemnity, of whatever form, shall be satisfied, if they are made by:

(a)

natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in Annex I;

(b)

any natural or legal person, entity or body acting through or on behalf of one of the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies referred to in point (a).

In any proceedings for the enforcement of a claim, the onus of proving that satisfying the claim is not prohibited by paragraph 1 shall be on the natural or legal person, entity or body seeking the enforcement of that claim.

This Article is without prejudice to the right of the natural or legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in paragraph 1 to judicial review of the legality of the non-performance of contractual obligations in accordance with this Regulation.

Article 12

The Commission and Member States shall inform each other of the measures taken under this Regulation and share any other relevant information at their disposal in connection with this Regulation, in particular information in respect of:

(a)

funds frozen under Article 2 and authorisations granted under Articles 3, 5 and 6;

(b)

violation and enforcement problems and judgments handed down by national courts.

The Member States shall immediately inform each other and the Commission of any other relevant information at their disposal which might affect the effective implementation of this Regulation.

Article 13

Where the Council decides to subject a natural or legal person, entity or body to the measures referred to in Article 2, it shall amend Annex I accordingly.

The Council shall communicate the decision referred to in paragraph 1, including the grounds for listing, to the natural or legal person, entity or body concerned, either directly, if the address is known, or through the publication of a notice, providing that natural or legal person, entity or body with an opportunity to present observations.

Where observations are submitted, or where substantial new evidence is presented, the Council shall review the decisions referred to in paragraph 1 and inform the natural or legal person, entity or body concerned accordingly.

The list in Annex I shall be reviewed at regular intervals and at least every 12 months.

The Commission shall be empowered to amend Annex II on the basis of information supplied by Member States.

Article 14

Annex I shall include the grounds for the listing of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies concerned.

Annex I shall contain, where available, the information necessary to identify the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies concerned. With regard to natural persons, such information may include: names and aliases; date and place of birth; nationality; passport and identity card numbers; gender; address, if known; and function or profession. With regard to legal persons, entities or bodies, such information may include: names; place and date of registration; registration number; and place of business.

Article 15

Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

Member States shall notify the Commission of the rules referred to in paragraph 1 without delay after the entry into force of this Regulation and shall notify it of any subsequent amendment.

Article 16

The Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) shall process personal data in order to carry out their tasks under this Regulation. These tasks include:

(a)

as regards the Council, preparing and making amendments to Annex I;

(b)

as regards the High Representative, preparing amendments to Annex I;

(c)

as regards the Commission:

(i)

adding the contents of Annex I to the electronic, consolidated list of persons, groups and entities subject to Union financial sanctions and to the interactive sanctions map, both publicly available;

(ii)

processing information on the impact of the measures provided for in this Regulation such as the value of frozen funds and information on authorisations granted by the competent authorities.

The Council, the Commission and the High Representative may process, where applicable, relevant data relating to criminal offences committed by listed natural persons, to criminal convictions of such persons or to security measures concerning such persons, only to the extent that such processing is necessary for the preparation of Annex I.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the Council, the Commission and the High Representative are designated as ‘controller’ within the meaning of point (8) of Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, in order to ensure that the natural persons concerned can exercise their rights under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

Article 17

Member States shall designate the competent authorities referred to in this Regulation and identify them on the websites listed in Annex II. Member States shall notify the Commission of any changes in the addresses of their websites listed in Annex II.

Member States shall notify the Commission of their competent authorities, including the contact details of those competent authorities, without delay after the entry into force of this Regulation, and shall notify it of any subsequent amendment.

Where this Regulation sets out a requirement to notify, inform or otherwise communicate with the Commission, the address and other contact details to be used for such communication shall be those indicated in Annex II.

Article 18

Any information provided to or received by the Commission in accordance with this Regulation shall be used by the Commission only for the purposes for which it was provided or received.

Article 19

This Regulation shall apply:

(a)

within the territory of the Union, including its airspace;

(b)

on board any aircraft or vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State;

(c)

to any natural person inside or outside the territory of the Union who is a national of a Member State;

(d)

to any legal person, entity or body, inside or outside the territory of the Union, which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State;

(e)

to any legal person, entity or body in respect of any business done in whole or in part within the Union.

Article 20

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

▼M1

ANNEX I

LIST OF NATURAL AND LEGAL PERSONS, ENTITIES AND BODIES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 2

A. Natural persons

	Name	Identifying information	Statement of reasons	Date of listing
▼M3
1.	Ilan Mironovich SHOR a.k.a. Ilan Mironovici ȘOR	Function: businessman, president of the political party ‘SHOR’ (‘ȘOR’) DOB: 6.3.1987 POB: Tel Aviv, Israel Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Israeli State Identification Number (IDNP): 0971007884125 (Republic of Moldova)	Ilan Shor is a Moldovan politician (leader of the ȘOR Political Party) and businessman from the Republic of Moldova who is involved in the illegal financing of political parties in the Republic of Moldova and in incitement to violence against the political opposition. Before being declared unconstitutional in June 2023, the ȘOR Party, which Ilan Shor leads, was involved in the payment and training of persons in order to provoke disorder and unrest during the protests in the Republic of Moldova. By a decision dated 13 April 2023, the Court of Appeal of Chisinau sentenced Ilan Shor for being guilty of fraud and money laundering in the ‘Bank Fraud’ case to 15 years of imprisonment and the confiscation of assets for a value of EUR 254 million. Funds from this large-scale banking fraud and connections to corrupt oligarchs and Moscow-based entities have been and are still being used, according to authorities of the Republic of Moldova, to artificially create political unrest in the country. His actions directed towards subverting democracy in the Republic of Moldova include providing illegal funding to support pro-Kremlin political activity in the Republic of Moldova. An example of the use of such funds is the organisation of violent protests and rallies, primarily in the capital Chisinau, with the help of protestors paid by the ȘOR Party, throughout 2022 and 2023. After the ȘOR Party was declared unconstitutional, Ilan Shor continued to facilitate Russian influence on the political scene of the Republic of Moldova by illegally financing other parties and attempting to bribe politicians. By directing and planning violent demonstrations and through his serious financial misconduct concerning public funds and the unauthorised export of capital, Ilan Shor is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and the democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova.	30.5.2023
2.	Gheorghe Petru CAVCALIUC	Function: politician, president of the political party ‘Building Europe at Home Party’ (PACE) former Deputy Head of the General Police Inspectorate DOB: 25.10.1982 POB: Micăuți village, Strășeni county, Republic of Moldova Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Romanian State Identification Number (IDNP): 2000033042660 (Republic of Moldova) Passport no: AB0664715 (Republic of Moldova) 058117566 (Romania)	Gheorghe Petru Cavcaliuc is the former Deputy Head of the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova. He is known for having organised and participated in the violent protests of October 2022, alongside Ilan Shor. He has used his connections within the General Police Inspectorate to recruit former police officers and create a paramilitary group to ‘protect’ the violent demonstrators against the Government of the Republic of Moldova. In this context, he has founded a so-called ‘shadow government’ with the aim of replacing the democratically elected government of the Republic of Moldova. By directing and planning violent demonstrations, Gheorghe Cavcaliuc is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and the democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova.	30.5.2023
▼M1
3.	Marina TAUBER	Function: Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (since March 2019) DOB: 1.5.1986 POB: Chișinău, Republic of Moldova Gender: female Nationality: Moldovan	Marina Tauber is the deputy leader of the ȘOR Party and a Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. She was charged in the ‘Bank Fraud’ case and she is subject to investigation in two criminal cases in the Republic of Moldova related to the illegal financing from an organised criminal group and the falsification of the report on the financial management of the ȘOR Party. On 20 December 2022, prosecutors conducted several searches in connection with the case of the illegal financing of Ilan Shor’s party. The authorities of the Republic of Moldova then identified money which, according to the prosecutors, was to be used for organising anti-government protests and remunerating the participants in those demonstrations. In 2023, knives, flammable substances and daggers were seized following protests organised by the People’s Movement, which the ȘOR Party is part of. Violence and altercations between the police and demonstrators were registered, where 54 people were detained, including minors. According to the General Police Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova, Marina Tauber was among the main organisers of the protests of the ȘOR Party and the People’s Movement. According to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Moldova, she used special communication instruments in order to give direct instructions to the presidents and vice-presidents of the territorial offices of the ȘOR Party in the country on how to bring people to the demonstrations, organise transport and how to receive the money for the remuneration of the people. By directing and planning violent demonstrations and through her serious financial misconduct concerning public funds and the unauthorised export of capital, Marina Tauber is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and the democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova.	30.5.2023
4.	Igor Yuryevich CHAIKA a.ka. Igor Yuryevich CHAYKA (Игорь Юрьевич ЧАЙКА)	Function: Russian businessman DOB: 13.12.1988 POB: Irkutsk or Moscow, former USSR (now Russian Federation) Gender: male Nationality: Russian	Igor Chaika is a Russian businessman responsible for funnelling money in support of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) projects aimed at destabilising the Republic of Moldova. He played the role of Russian ‘purse’, channelling money to FSB assets in the Republic of Moldova in order to bring the country under the control of the Kremlin. Through his serious financial misconduct concerning public funds, Igor Chaika is responsible for supporting actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and the democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova.	30.5.2023
▼M3
5.	Vladimir Gheorghe PLAHOTNIUC a.k.a. Vladimir ULINICI a.k.a. Vladimir PLAKHOTNYUK a.k.a. Vladislav Vladimir NOVAK (Владимир (Влад) Георгиевич ПЛАХОТНЮК)	Function: businessman, politician DOB: 1.1.1966 or 25.12.1965 POB: Pitușca, Călărași, former USSR (now Republic of Moldova) Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Romanian, Russian State Identification Number (IDNP): 0962706018030 (Republic of Moldova) Passport no: AB 0671328; AA 1203658 (Republic of Moldova)	Vladimir Plahotniuc is subject to numerous criminal proceedings in the Republic of Moldova related to crimes in connection with the embezzlement of State funds of the Republic of Moldova and their illegal transfer outside the Republic of Moldova. He was accused in the Republic of Moldova in the ‘Bank Fraud’ case, the economic effects of which are still affecting the country. He is also being investigated for bribing the former president of the Republic of Moldova with a bag of cash in exchange for political favours. Through his serious financial misconduct concerning public funds and the unauthorised export of capital and undermining the democratic political process in the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Plahotniuc is responsible for actions and implementing policies which undermine and threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in the Republic of Moldova.	30.5.2023
6.	Chiril GUZUN	Former border police officer and the current leader of a paramilitary group, ‘SCUTUL POPORULUI’ DOB: 27.4.1979 POB: Ratus, Criuleni, SSR Moldova Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova, Romanian	Chiril Guzun is the founder and current leader of the ‘Scutul Poporului’, a paramilitary organisation in the Republic of Moldova, including former military, police and law-enforcement personnel, which uses violence while attending protests, particularly to destabilise the Republic of Moldova. During the attempts of February 2023 to destabilise the national government, groups of protesters affiliated to the subsequently-banned ‘Partidul ȘOR’ and to the Building Europe at Home Party, ‘Partidul Acasă Construim Europa’ (PACE) were supported and surrounded by members of the ‘Scutul Poporului’, who were involved in riots and violent demonstrations. Chiril Guzun is also a long-time acquaintance of Gheorghe Cavcaliuc, a listed person and the leader of the ‘PACE’ party. Cavcaliuc admitted to coordinating with Chiril Guzun’s organisation regarding the violent protests. In addition, Natalia Guzun, the wife of Chiril Guzun, is vice-president of the ‘PACE’ party. In the role of ‘Scutul Poporului’ leader, by directing, engaging in and supporting violent demonstrations, Chiril Guzun is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, Chiril Guzun is associated with Gheorghe Cavcaliuc and ‘Scutul Poporului’.	22.2.2024
7.	Dmitry MILYUTIN (Дмитрий Милютин)	Deputy head of the Department of Operational Intelligence of Directorate 5, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) DOB: 30.5.1967 POB: Ijevsk, USSR (now Russian Federation) Gender: male Nationality: Russian ID Card Number: 0134180	Dmitry Milyutin is the Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)’s Department of Operational Intelligence, responsible for Russia’s covert operations in the Republic of Moldova since 2016, especially in the Transnistria region, destabilising the constitutional order. Through his operatives, Milyutin directs, coordinates and manipulates chosen political actors in the Republic of Moldova in order to pursue pro-Russian agendas, thus undermining the democratic political process in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, Milyutin’s group is involved in organising violent protests and other acts of violence taking place in the Republic of Moldova. By seriously undermining the democratic political process, attempting to destabilise the constitutional order, and by facilitating violent demonstrations and other acts of violence, Dmitry Milyutin is supporting actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence, democracy, rule of law, stability and security of the Republic of Moldova. He is also associated with the listed person Igor Chaika.	22.2.2024
▼M2
8.	Arina Evgheni CORȘICOVA	DOB: 28.12.1974 Gender: female Nationality: Republic of Moldova State Identification Number (IDNP): 0962011898118	Arina Corșicova leads several communications media trusts in the Republic of Moldova, one of which owns two television channels, ‘ACCENT TV’ and ‘PRIMUL ÎN MOLDOVA’, the broadcasting licences of which were suspended by the Republic of Moldova, for disseminating incorrect information concerning the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and current political events in the Republic of Moldova. Despite losing its television broadcasting licence, ‘Primul în Moldova’ continues to disseminate false statements aimed at destabilising the constitutional order of the Republic of Moldova. In this context, Arina Corșicova is also undermining the democratic political process in the Republic of Moldova by leading a disinformation campaign and by being politically backed by listed person Ilan Shor. Furthermore, she is a long-time associate of Ilan Shor, having funded his electoral campaigns in the past and being an indirect shareholder of the ‘Banca Socială’, involved in the ‘Bank Fraud’ case. By undermining the democratic political process and destabilising the constitutional order Arina Corșicova is supporting actions and policies which undermine and threaten democracy, the rule of law, and stability in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, she is associated with Ilan Shor.	22.2.2024
9.	Dumitru CHITOROAGĂ	DOB: 23.12.1984 Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova State Identification Number (IDNP): 2002003101445 Passport number: AB1187605	Dumitru Chitoroagă is the administrator of a media trust which owns several media communication channels in the Republic of Moldova, channels of which he is also the director. Those media communication channels frequently promote messages aimed at obstructing and undermining the democratic political process through evidently false claims regarding the government of the Republic of Moldova. Moreover, they express manifest support for listed person Ilan Shor and his political party ‘SHOR’ (‘ȘOR’). Some of those channels were owned or founded by Ilan Shor through intermediaries. The Republic of Moldova has legally suspended the broadcasting licences of several media channels, including those of ‘TV6’ and ‘ORHEI TV’, which are under the administration of Dumitru Chitoroagă, for disseminating incorrect information regarding current political events in the Republic of Moldova. Therefore, by obstructing and undermining the democratic political process, Dumitru Chitoroagă is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, he is associated with Ilan Shor.	22.2.2024
10.	Maria ALBOT	External relations advisor to the Bashkan of Gagauzia Administrator of the ‘Miron Shor’ Foundation Shareholder of the ‘Banca Socială’ DOB: 21.1.1986 Gender: female Nationality: Republic of Moldova State Identification Number (IDNP): 2000088038487	Maria Albot is a long-time trusted associate of listed person Ilan Shor. She currently has a leading role in one of his foundations, the ‘Miron Shor’ Foundation, and she is involved in the ‘Bank Fraud’ case that affected the financial stability of the Republic of Moldova. Previously, she held positions in other companies or foundations owned by or associated with Ilan Shor. Therefore, she is associated with Ilan Shor.	22.2.2024
11.	Victor PETROV	Politician, member of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia DOB: 29.6.1975 Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova State Identification Number (IDNP): 0973004885136	Victor Petrov is a deputy to the bashkan of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia and the leader of the People’s Union of Gagauzia, a manifestly pro-Russian socio-political movement that merged with the ‘Renaștere’ political party. He receives political backing from listed person Ilan Shor. Victor Petrov is actively engaged in the dissemination of disinformation, and in inciting violence and fear among the Gagauzian people of the Republic of Moldova regarding a potential loss of autonomy provoked by the authorities in Chișinău. As a result, authorities in the Republic of Moldova have blocked one of his websites, ‘gagauznews.md’. Nevertheless, the dissemination is continued through a new domain, ‘gagauznews.com’ and through Petrov’s declarations. By undermining the democratic political process and destabilising the constitutional order, Victor Petrov is supporting actions and policies which undermine and threaten democracy, the rule of law, and stability in the Republic of Moldova. He is also associated with Ilan Shor.	22.2.2024
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12.	Evghenia GUȚUL	Function: Governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia DOB: 5.9.1986 POB: Etulia, Vulcănești, SSR Moldova (now Republic of Moldova) Gender: female Nationality: Republic of Moldova	Evghenia Guțul is the Governor (Bashkan) of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia in the Republic of Moldova. She previously worked for Ilan Shor’s political party ‘SHOR’ (‘ȘOR’), which is now banned, and was involved in its illegal financing. She has proposed several of Shor’s associates to fill positions in Gagauzia’s Executive Committee, despite the fact that those individuals lack ties to Gagauzia. Despite lacking the constitutional competence to do so, as Governor she engaged in a formal visit to the Russian Federation and met Russian President Vladimir Putin. She asked Putin for and received assurance of Russia’s support to Gagauzia’s rights, authority and positions. By promoting separatism in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and close ties to the Russian Federation, Evghenia Guțul is attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, thereby threatening the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and democracy, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova.	14.10.2024
13.	Iurii CUZNEȚOV	Function: Deputy Head of the General Department for External Relations, Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia DOB: 18.7.1988 POB: SSR Moldova (now Republic of Moldova) Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova State Identification Number (IDNP): 2004042080868	Iurii Cuznețov, a former member of Ilan Shor’s political party ‘SHOR’ (‘ȘOR’), is the Deputy Head of the General Department for External Relations of the Executive Committee of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. He joined Evghenia Guțul on her visit to the Russian Federation and was involved in the scheme to finance Gagauzian citizens through a Russian bank. He actively supported Evghenia Guțul’s campaign for Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia. Iurii Cuznețov is therefore associated with Evghenia Guțul.	14.10.2024
14.	Nelli PARUTENCO	Function: Founder/Director of Evrazia DOB: 21.3.1962 Gender: female Nationality: Republic of Moldova State Identification Number (IDNP): 0970403899047	Nelli Parutenco was the treasurer of Ilan Shor’s political party ‘SHOR’ (‘ȘOR’), until it was banned. In the context of investigations into SHOR for illegal financing, she escaped to Moscow in 2022. Nelli Parutenco is now the founder and director of the Russia-based non-governmental association Evrazia, the goal of which is to promote Russian interests in former Soviet republics, including in the Republic of Moldova. Evrazia promotes Russian propaganda narratives, including among young children at youth camps it organises. Evrazia serves as a channel to provide financing from a Russian bank and from Ilan Shor to citizens and infrastructure projects in Gagauzia. Through Evrazia, Nelli Parutenco is therefore attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, thereby threatening the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and democracy, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova. Nelli Parutenco is associated with Evrazia. Moreover, Nelli Parutenco is associated with Ilan Shor.	14.10.2024
15.	Ilia UZUN	Function: Deputy President of the Executive Committee of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, member of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia DOB: 16.5.1967 POB: Chioselia Rusă, Comrat, SSR Moldova (now Republic of Moldova) Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova State Identification Number (IDNP): 0961607975268	Ilia Uzun is a member of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia and Deputy President of the Executive Committee of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. He met Ilan Shor in Israel to discuss the implementation in Gagauzia of the electoral plans of Governor (Bashkan) Evghenia Guțul. Ilia Uzun is engaged in spreading Russian propaganda, launched by Ilan Shor’s team. He planned, attended and led demonstrations against the authorities of the Republic of Moldova organised by Ilan Shor or his associates. He publicly gave support to Ilan Shor or his actions. He is therefore associated with Ilan Shor.	14.10.2024
16.	Mihail VLAH	Function: Deputy Governor and media relations advisor to the Governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia DOB: 4.2.1978 Gender: male Nationality: Republic of Moldova Passport Number: 2000019014568	Mihail Vlah is a deputy to the Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul. He has been appointed by Evghenia Guțul but his appointment was not approved by the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. He is also Evghenia Guțul’s media relations advisor. He met Ilan Shor in Israel to discuss the implementation in Gagauzia of the electoral plans of Governor Guțul. He planned and attended demonstrations against the authorities of the Republic of Moldova, in support of Evghenia Guțul or organised by Ilan Shor or his associates. He publicly gave support to Ilan Shor’s or Evghenia Gutul’s actions. Mihail Vlah is therefore associated with Ilan Shor and Evghenia Guțul. Furthermore, he took part in a violent demonstration against the Government of the Republic of Moldova and attempted to destabilise the constitutional order by claiming that the Autonomous Territorial Region of Gagauzia has the right to open diplomatic representations abroad.	14.10.2024

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B. Legal persons, entities and bodies

	Name	Identifying information	Statement of Reasons	Date of listing
1.	Public Association – Association of People with Epaulettes ‘Scutul Poporului’ (Asociația Obștească – Asociația Oamenilor cu Epoleți ‘Scutul Poporului’)	Type of entity: NGO – paramilitary group Address: 74, Mitropolit Varlam street, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova Registration number: 1022620011296 Website: https://m.facebook.com/people/Scutul-Poporului/100088028496232/	‘Scutul Poporului’ is a paramilitary organisation in the Republic of Moldova, including former military, police and law-enforcement personnel. It is led by Chiril Guzun and it attends protests, particularly to destabilise the Republic of Moldova, by using violence. During the attempts of February 2023 to destabilise the national government, groups of protesters affiliated to the subsequently-banned ‘Partidul ȘOR’ and to the Building Europe at Home Party, ‘Partidul Acasă Construim Europa’ (PACE) were supported and surrounded by members of the ‘Scutul Poporului’, who were involved in riots and violent demonstrations. By engaging in and supporting violent demonstrations, ‘Scutul Poporului’ is responsible for actions which undermine and threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and democracy, the rule of law, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova. Furthermore, ‘Scutul Poporului’ is associated with listed person Chiril Guzun.	22.2.2024
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2.	Evrazia - Autonomous non-commercial organisation for the promotion of international cooperation	Type of entity: Autonomous non-commercial organisation Address: Moscow, 127006, Krasnoproletarskaya Street 7, office 4/P, Russian Federation Registration numbers: OGRN: 1247700291200; INN: 9707028663; KPP: 770701001 Website: https://evrazia.su/	Evrazia is a Russia-based non-governmental association founded by Nelli Parutenco. Its goal is to promote Russian interests in former Soviet republics, including in the Republic of Moldova. Evrazia promotes Russian propaganda narratives, including among young children at youth camps it organises. Evrazia serves as a channel to provide financing from a Russian bank and from Ilan Shor to citizens and infrastructure projects in Gagauzia. Evrazia is therefore attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, thereby threatening the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, and democracy, stability and security in the Republic of Moldova. Evrazia is associated with Nelli Parutenco. Moreover, Evrazia is associated with Ilan Shor.	14.10.2024