NAC and Balti prosecutor's office document illegal financing scheme of political parties through cryptocurrencies, sourced from Russia: over 800 000 lei seized and one person detained

The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors from Balti Municipality announce the conduct of over 30 searches, in the context of an investigation into serious acts of illegal financing of political parties, money laundering and electoral corruption in aggravating circumstances. The investigations target a group of individuals affiliated with a political party, including decision-makers, members and supporters, suspected of having implemented a criminal plan before the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, 2025.
According to the evidence collected so far, the funds used in the illegal actions would come from the Russian Federation, from members of a criminal group, being transferred through cryptocurrency accounts. These were layered and liquefied through illegal crypto exchange service providers, and subsequently converted into cash and distributed by couriers to the final recipients. During the documentation, anti-corruption officers managed to identify cash deliveries totalling approximately 9,000,000 lei, carried out in a non-transparent cryptographic manner.
To date, the searches have resulted in the seizure of over 800 000 lei (in several currencies), parallel accounting documents, electronic information storage devices, as well as other evidence relevant to the investigation of voter corruption, money laundering and illegal financing of political parties. One person was detained for 72 hours, to be placed in the NAC Detention Centre.
The procedural actions are ongoing, and further details will be provided as the investigations progress. We would like to point out that, according to the law, any person is considered innocent until a final and irrevocable decision is rendered by the courts.