The Arrest of Vladimir Plahotniuc
Vladimir Plahotniuc, an oligarch and former politician from the Republic of Moldova, was arrested in Greece after six years on the run.
On July 22, 2025 (4:30 a.m.), Greek police arrested him along with Constantin Tutu at Athens airport as they attempted to board a flight to Dubai. Bulgarian travel documents and other items were found in his possession. Both suspects were listed on Interpol’s Red Notice. Falsified Romanian and Bulgarian travel documents and licenses were also found in Constantin Tutu’s luggage.
(Constantin Tutu is a former athlete and ex-deputy of the Republic of Moldova, prosecuted for influence peddling and large-scale fraud, and wanted by Russia for involvement in a drug trafficking network.)
17 Fake Passports Found in his Villa
Vladimir Plahotniuc had been living with his partner in a luxurious villa, located in the southern suburbs of Athens. Constantin Tutu lived in the same property.
Following his arrest, the villa was searched, leading to the seizure of €55,000 in cash and 17 fake passports and ID cards from various countries (including Moldovan, Russian, and Romanian documents).
Multiple Nationalities and Identities
According to Greek media, Plahotniuc possessed an authentic Greek passport and ID card obtained using false documents. Other sources claim he also had a Greek driver’s license, discovered by police at a car dealership.
In 2024, he also obtained fake Mexican identity documents under the name “Vito Perez Gonzalez,” according to investigative outlet ZdG. These documents were allegedly sent to a Dubai address linked to a young Russian influencer named Irina Ustina.
Extradition Process Underway for Vladimir Plahotniuc
Plahotniuc was due to appear before a prosecutor on July 23. The Greek Ministry of Justice and the Moldovan Prosecutor’s Office are currently working together on his extradition.
This case highlights how corrupt oligarchs can exploit loopholes in the international system to evade justice, as well as their ability to obtain genuine identity documents, including European ones.
Moreover, the arrest and potential extradition of Vladimir Plahotniuc to Moldova also send a strong message of support for the pro-European government, just ahead of the September presidential elections and as the country continues its negotiations to join the European Union.
Vladimir Plahotniuc’s Background
Vladimir Plahotniuc is a former politician and one of the wealthiest men in the Republic of Moldova. He served as Deputy Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament from 2010 to 2013 and as leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova from 2016 to 2019.
He fled to the United States in June 2019, after the Democratic Party lost power following a major political crisis.
A few months later, an arrest warrant was issued against him for fraud and money laundering. As part of the investigation, Moldovan authorities seized his villa in Switzerland and a chalet in the Alps.
Allegations in a €850 million banking fraud
He is notably accused of being involved in a massive bank fraud that occurred in Moldova in 2014 (known as the “theft of the century”). The case involved the embezzlement of about €850 million, which represented almost one-eighth of the country’s GDP at the time. Plahotniuc has always denied any involvement. Other pro-Russian Moldovan oligarchs, such as Ilan Shor, are also implicated in the case.
In 2022, he was declared persona non grata (not welcomed person) by the U.S. and disappeared for several years.
That same year, both the U.S. and the U.K. sanctioned him for alleged corruption, manipulation of law enforcement, and interference in Moldovan elections. In addition, the U.K. froze his assets and banned him from entering the country.
In 2023, the EU sanctioned seven Moldovan individuals, including Vladimir Plahotniuc, for actions that destabilized and undermined the territorial integrity of Moldova and Ukraine. He is also accused of participating in pro-Russian political campaigns aimed at distancing Moldova from the EU.
An International Run
On February 7, 2025, Plahotniuc was placed on Interpol’s international wanted list, at the request of Moldova, following a review of a previous denial in 2020.
On February 28, the investigative outlet ZdG published photos allegedly showing him on the terrace of the “Jumeirah Al Naseem” hotel in Dubai.
According to Greek police, he had lived in 22 countries since 2023, frequently changing residence to avoid detection. Unofficial sources claim he stayed in Northern Cyprus, a region that does not permit international extradition, and often traveled to Turkey.
A Potential Link With Vitalie Pirlog
There may also be a connection between Vladimir Plahotniuc and Vitalie Pirlog, a former Moldovan Minister of Justice who was extradited from Dubai to France on July 18.
In June 2024, France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office accused Pârlog of heading a “corruption scheme” while chairing Interpol’s Commission for the Control of Files (2017–2022).
He allegedly facilitated the deletion of red notices for individuals in exchange of money through intermediaries, including in Moldova.
Three Arrest Warrants
To date, 3 distinct arrest warrants have been issued by the Republic of Moldova against Vladimir Plahotniuc:
- Money laundering (issued in October 2019);
- Illegal acquisition of shares in Moldovan banks, including Victoriabank, through offshore companies and front persons to influence decisions without appearing as the official shareholder (initially investigated in Romania, then transferred to Moldova in 2018);
- Suspected fraud involving the state-owned company Metalferos, specialized in metal trading, through affiliated offshore companies (issued in July 2022).
Irregular Identity Changes in the Past
In 2009, Vladimir Plahotniuc requested to change his surname to “Ulinici” in Romania (his mother’s maiden name). That same year, he also requested a name change for his children.
In 2010, he changed his first name from “Vladimir” to “Vlad”. He did so while keeping his original identity in Moldova, which is illegal. Indeed, a person cannot hold different legal names in two countries, even if they have dual nationality. In this case, the surname change was never requested in Moldova.
Later, he reverted to “Vladimir Plahotniuc” in Romania, and the investigation into the matter was closed without further action.
In 2019, a new passport under the name “Novak Vladislav Vladimir” was discovered. It led to another criminal investigation about the fabrication of identity documents by employees of the Public Services Agency. However, it was also closed in 2021. Prosecutors stated that the documents were used for special investigative purposes, later destroyed, and that no offense had been committed.
