U.S. Department of State on Plahotniuc

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Public Designation, Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption, of Former Moldovan Official Plahotniuc



Today, I am designating former Moldovan official and oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc due to his involvement in significant corruption. In his official capacity, Plahotniuc was involved in corrupt acts that undermined the rule of law and severely compromised the independence of democratic institutions in Moldova.

This designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020 (Div. G, P.L. 116-94). Under Section 7031(c), once the Secretary of State designates officials of foreign governments for their involvement, directly or indirectly, in significant corruption, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for visas to the United States.

The law also requires the Secretary of State to either publicly or privately designate or identify such officials and their immediate family members. In addition to Plahotniuc, I am designating his wife, Oxana Childescu; his son, Timofei Plahotniuc; and his minor child.

Today’s action sends a strong signal the United States does not tolerate corruption and stands with the people of Moldova in their fight against it. The Department will continue to use these authorities to promote accountability for corrupt actors in this region and globally.


Secretary Pompeo on Plahotniuc, Twitter, 13 January 2020:



UPDATE OF 19 July 2021

Dereck J. Hogan,

U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova,
interview to Radio Free Europe on 19 July 2021:
At the beginning of the last year, we imposed sanctions, and Plahotniuc has no chance of returning to the United States, simply because of his involvement in big corruption. [...] I believe that it is important for the Republic of Moldova and, especially, the prosecutor's office, the law enforcement agencies to do everything possible to hold accountable all those who participated in corruption, including Mr Plahotniuc.

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