Moldova: Maia Sandu has revoked the citizenship of Alexandru Balan, former deputy of the SIS

The former deputy director of the Information and Security Service, Alexandru Balan, has lost the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, after President Maia Sandu signed a decree to that effect on June 23. The decision can be challenged in court and comes a few months after Balan was pardoned and transferred to Belarus as part of a prisoner exchange that allowed the release of two Moldovan officers held captive in Russia.

The authorities in Chișinău accuse Balan of activities in the interest of the Belarusian secret services. Previously, he was convicted for attempting to disclose state secrets and served a prison sentence. After his transfer to Belarus, the former SIS official publicly denied the accusations of collaborating with the intelligence services of Belarus or Russia.

The withdrawal of citizenship represents a new episode in a case that has had security and diplomatic implications for both the Republic of Moldova and its Western partners.