A7A5, a cryptocurrency linked to Ilan Shor and Promsviazbank, is becoming a crucial tool for Russia in evading Western sanctions.

Cryptocurrency A7A5, associated with the fugitive Moldovan oligarch Ilan Șor and the Russian bank Promsviazbank, has become an essential tool for Russia in evading sanctions imposed by the West. It operates through a network of companies in Russia, Moldova, and Kyrgyzstan, receiving direct support from the Kremlin. In less than a year, A7A5 has generated transactions worth tens of billions of dollars, being part of a broader Kremlin strategy to build a parallel financial system.

Investigations show that A7A5 recorded total transfers of 51.2 billion dollars by August, and Putin's involvement in opening a branch of the A7 company surprised experts. The cryptocurrency is crucial for the Kremlin in the context of sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has imposed sanctions against A7A5, recognizing it as a tool for financing war activities.

Additionally, Ilan Șor has been accused by Moldovan authorities of orchestrating destabilization schemes in Moldova, including money transfers to Moldovan citizens through cards issued by Promsviazbank. These actions underscore Șor's role as an agent of the Kremlin in attempting to influence Moldovan politics and evade international sanctions.