Over 70 detainees in Moldova allegedly trained by Russians in Serbia

Moldovan authorities conducted 250 raids and detained dozens of people Monday, as part of an investigation into an alleged Russian-backed plan to promote the mass <x0volta” and destabilise the country in Sunday's parliamentary elections on September 28th.

Details of the raid were disclosed by Attorney General P CCOCS, Victor Furtunão, Chief of the General Inspectorate of Police Viorel Cernãoeanu, and Intelligence and Security Service Director Alexandru Musteauão, at a press conference on Monday's raids, September 22, 2025.

A total of 74 people were detained after attending training sessions in Serbia, organised by citizens of the Russian Federation, writes Radio Free Europe Moldova.

Moldovan police claimed the plot was “co-ordinated by the Russian Federation, through criminal elements”.

Police Chief Viorel Cernãoceanu, Intelligence and Security Service Director Alexandru Musteaıa, and acting chief prosecutor of the Office for Combating Organised Criminality and Special Affairs (PCCOCS), Victor Furtuunão, gave details Monday on the raids of 250 settlements.

The investigation began in June, announced Furtunão, prosecutor anti-mafia from beyond Prut.

Prosecutors discovered a group of people between the ages of 19 and 45 who traveled to Serbia, where, according to the data, they were trained to break police cords, how to resist rule forces, how to use rubber sticks, handcuffs and even firearms in some cases.

For each training session they received about 400 euros.

In total, 111 people are involved in this criminal case.

During 250 raids, law enforcement officers seized passports, SIM cards, money, bank cards from foreign states and weapons, writes RELM, broadcast TV Dukajini.

74 people were detained for 72 hours.

“Many have given detailed evidence: how they have travelled to Serbia, about travel organisers and instructors”, Furtun said.

Police chief Cernãoceanu said some of the suspects did not know the true purpose of their trip, which they were told was a pilgrimage. Only later were they involved in <x0-training for disorder and destabilisation”.

Suspected Russian Federation Turnout

He added that early in the investigation “did not target political elements”, but later links were established between participants in training and some “political parties and criminal groups”.

Similar treatments are suspected to have been held in R. Moldova, while hearings in Serbia were organised by persons from the Russian Federation.

Cernãoceanu stressed that trained persons would thus participate in the uprisings and play the role of provocations.

SIS chief Alexandru Mustea? explained that the person who co-ordinated training in Serbia was represented as a Russian special services employee and used the nickname “bes” (demon, in Russian St. Red.), but his identity has not yet been determined. Another organiser of the sessions was Andrei Pavlov, an officer of the Russian Defence Ministry.

According to the investigation, it is suspected of planning and organising on R territory. Moldova's subversive acts, financed by the Russian Federation, also exploiting the network of grouping ʹorʹ to recruit more people”, Mustea said.

According to him, Andrei Pavlov is known for organising subversive activities in several countries of the European Union, Asia and Africa.

On Sunday, Moldovans will vote for the election of a new parliament with 101 seats, in a process many see as a choice between integration into the European Union or closer ties with Russia.

Moldovan authorities have long accused Russia of developing a hybrid struggle in elections, dezination campaign, illegal financing of pro-Russian parties to divert the country from its pro-European course.

Moscow has repeatedly denied intervention in Moldova.

After Russia's full invasion of Ukraine on February 24th 2022, Moldova sought EU membership and received candidate status in the same year.

Brussels agreed to open membership negotiations last year.

Moldova's pro-Western twist has made Moscow even more frustrated, causing significant tensions between the two countries to rise./Periscopi/