Plahotniuc in the USA: legitimising the Moldovan oligarch

Summary:

At the beginning of May the US hosted a delegation of Moldovan politicians, including Vlad Plahotniuc, the most influential man in Moldova, who has de facto control of the government and parliament; and Octavian Calmîc, the deputy prime minister and minister of the economy. Plahotniuc was met (among others) by Victoria Nuland, the Assistant Secretary of State responsible for Eastern Europe, and Menno Snel, executive director of the IMF. According to an official communiqué on the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM)’s web page, Nuland openly supported the policy of the Moldovan government, which is controlled by Plahotniuc. She stated: “Continue at the current pace, and we will support you.”