Ilan Shor, a pro-Kremlin Moldovan politician living in Russia, has offered Moldovans 3,000 dollars a month to join anti-government demonstrations, Reuters reports.
Moldovan politicians regularly accuse Moscow of meddling in their internal affairs by promoting pro-Russian sentiment to destabilize a government that is seeking closer ties with the West. Moscow denies the accusations.
Shor, who is also under EU sanctions for trying to stir up unrest in Moldova, has said he is ready to pay each protester a daily allowance, which could total 3,000 dollars a month, if they take part in protests in Chisinau starting the 16th of August. He said in a video posted on social media that he is ready to compensate the protests so generously that their participants will feel the fruits of victory as early as Saturday. Accounts for receiving payments will be opened at the protest site.
Moldovan state police said Shor’s message was an incitement to commit crimes and warned Moldovans that if they accepted the politician’s offer, they would be investigated. “Law enforcement agencies will not allow criminal groups to organize illegal protests aimed at inciting disorder and violence.
Any such attempt will be stopped in accordance with the law,”
the police statement said.
Moldova has said Shor, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for embezzling about one billion euros from the banking system, is the main Kremlin influence agent in the country. His party has been barred from participating in the elections and media outlets affiliated with him have been blocked.
Moldova, which is sandwiched between Ukraine and EU and NATO member Romania, is holding parliamentary elections on the 28th of September. The ruling party hopes to maintain its majority in order to continue its path toward the EU.
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