The European Union extends sanctions for destabilizing the Republic of Moldova until 2027.

The Council of the European Union has extended the sanctions regime for actions that destabilize the Republic of Moldova until April 29, 2027, and has updated the information regarding seven individuals included on the list.

In brief The EU Council adopted Decision CFSP 2026/897, which extends until April 29, 2027, the restrictive measures regarding the destabilization actions against the Republic of Moldova.

The decision updates the entries for seven individuals on the sanctions list: Ilan Șor, Vladimir Plahotniuc, Arina Corșicova, Maria Albot, Evghenia Guțul, Ilia Uzun, and Alexei Lungu.

The Council cites ongoing threats to democracy, the rule of law, stability, and security in the Republic of Moldova.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Ukraine have aligned with the decision.

The EU states that it acknowledges the commitment of these countries to align their national policies with the Council's decision and welcomes it.

The Council of the European Union has extended the regime of restrictive measures regarding actions that destabilize the Republic of Moldova until April 29, 2027. The decision modifies the regime established in 2023 and maintains the sanctions in the context of ongoing threats to democracy, the rule of law, stability, and security in the Republic of Moldova.

Decision CFSP 2026/897 was adopted on April 21, 2026, and entered into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Council asserts that the European Union remains firmly committed to supporting the resilience, security, stability, economy, and energy supply of the Republic of Moldova in the face of destabilizing activities by external actors.

Along with the extension of the sanctions regime, the Council updated the information regarding seven individuals already included on the list of restrictive measures. These are Ilan Șor, Vladimir Plahotniuc, Arina Corșicova, Maria Albot, Evghenia Guțul, Ilia Uzun, and Alexei Lungu.

In the case of Ilan Șor, the Council mentions his involvement in the illegal financing of political parties in the Republic of Moldova and incitement to violence against the political opposition. The document recalls that the Șor party, before being declared unconstitutional in June 2023, was involved in paying and training individuals to provoke disorder and disturbances during protests in the Republic of Moldova.

The Council also mentions Ilan Șor's conviction by the Chișinău Court of Appeal on April 13, 2023, to 15 years in prison for fraud and money laundering in the "Bank Fraud" case, as well as the confiscation of assets worth 254 million euros. According to the decision, funds from this large-scale bank fraud and connections with corrupt oligarchs and entities based in Moscow have been and continue to be used to create artificial political instability in the Republic of Moldova.

The Council states that, after the declaration of the Șor party as unconstitutional, Ilan Șor continued to facilitate Russian influence in the political scene of the Republic of Moldova by illegally financing other parties and attempting to bribe politicians. The document further states that, by financing vote buying and disinformation campaigns, he interfered with the presidential elections in 2024, the constitutional referendum regarding accession to the European Union, and the parliamentary elections in 2025.

The Council also mentions the non-governmental organization Evrazia, based in Russia, and the political bloc Victory/Pobeda, through which Ilan Șor would promote Russian propaganda narratives and coordinate funding activities aimed at influencing the political situation in the Republic of Moldova.

In the case of Vladimir Plahotniuc, the Council mentions several criminal proceedings in the Republic of Moldova related to crimes associated with the embezzlement of public funds and their illegal transfer abroad. The document recalls the accusations in the "Bank Fraud" case, the economic effects of which continue to affect the Republic of Moldova.

The Council asserts that Plahotniuc is also being investigated for bribing the former president of the Republic of Moldova with a bag of money in exchange for political favors. The document specifies that he had meetings with the Kremlin to obtain support for interference in the parliamentary elections in 2025 in the Republic of Moldova.

In the case of Arina Corșicova, the Council indicates her role in leading media trusts in the Republic of Moldova, including one that owned the "Accent TV" and "Primul în Moldova" channels, whose broadcasting licenses were suspended by the Moldovan authorities. According to the decision, these channels disseminated incorrect information about Russia's aggression against Ukraine and current political events in the Republic of Moldova.

The Council states that "Primul în Moldova" continues to disseminate false statements aimed at destabilizing the constitutional order of the Republic of Moldova, even though it has lost its TV broadcasting license. The document describes Corșicova as a long-term associate of Ilan Șor, including through financing his electoral campaigns in the past.

Maria Albot is described by the Council as a trusted associate of Ilan Șor, with a leading role in the "Miron Șor" Foundation and involved in the "Bank Fraud" case. The decision states that she is involved in operations led by Ilan Șor for the financing of coordinated propaganda, mobilizations, and protests aimed at destabilizing the Republic of Moldova.

In the case of Evghenia Guțul, former governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, the Council mentions her previous activity in the Șor party, her involvement in its illegal financing, and the promotion of associates of Șor in the Executive Committee of Gagauzia. The document also mentions her official visit to the Russian Federation and the meeting with Vladimir Putin, from whom she allegedly requested and received assurances of support for the rights, authority, and positions of Gagauzia.

The Council asserts that Evghenia Guțul promotes separatism in Gagauzia and has close ties with the Russian Federation, attempting to overturn the constitutional order and thus threatening the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, as well as democracy, stability, and security in the country.

Ilia Uzun, a member of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia and vice president of the Executive Committee of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, is presented as being associated with Ilan Șor and Evghenia Guțul. The Council states that he had meetings with Ilan Șor in Israel to discuss the implementation of Evghenia Guțul's electoral plans in Gagauzia.

After Evghenia Guțul's detention in March 2025, Ilia Uzun acted as interim bashkan of Gagauzia and publicly declared that all matters regarding the functioning of the Executive Committee are coordinated with Evghenia Guțul through her lawyers, even though the law of the Republic of Moldova does not provide for such a procedure in the case of a former bashkan who no longer exercises his duties.

The Council asserts that Uzun is involved in spreading Russian propaganda launched by Ilan Șor's team, has planned, participated in, and led demonstrations against the authorities of the Republic of Moldova organized by Ilan Șor or his associates, and has publicly expressed support for Șor's actions.

Alexei Lungu is mentioned as the leader of the "Șansă" party, described as one of the successors of the outlawed Șor party. The Council notes that, in April 2024, Ilan Șor launched the political bloc Victory/Pobeda in Moscow, which unites the successors of his party, including "Șansă". Lungu is considered associated both with the Victory/Pobeda Bloc and with Ilan Șor.

Separately, the High Representative issued, on behalf of the EU, a statement regarding the alignment of several countries with this decision of the Council. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Ukraine announced that they align with Decision CFSP 2026/897.

These countries will ensure the compliance of their national policies with the Council's decision. The European Union has taken note of this commitment and welcomed it.

The EU sanctions regime regarding actions to destabilize the Republic of Moldova was established by Decision CFSP 2023/891, adopted by the Council on April 28, 2023.

Through Decision CFSP 2026/897, the Council decided that, following the review of the regime and considering the ongoing threat to democracy, the rule of law, stability, and security in the Republic of Moldova, the restrictive measures must be renewed until April 29, 2027.

The EU's restrictive measures in such regimes generally include the freezing of assets of listed individuals and entities and the prohibition of making funds or economic resources available to them. For individuals, sanctions regimes may also include travel restrictions.