The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on members of a group believed to be linked to Russian intelligence services for their role in Moscow’s attempts to destabilize democracy and influence elections in the Republic of Moldova. Treasury DepartmentReuters reports.

The sanctions apply to seven people, some of whom maintain ties with Russian special services, the agency said in a statement.

Among them is the leader of the group, Konstantin Prokopievych Sapozhnikov, who organized a conspiracy to destabilize the government of the Republic of Moldova in early 2023.

“Today’s sanctions shine a light on Russia’s covert efforts to destabilize democracies,” said Brian Nelson, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

“Russia’s influence operations use the concerns of the citizens of these countries to destabilize legitimately elected governments in Moscow’s interests.”

According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the sanctions are part of ongoing efforts to combat Russia’s malign influence in Moldova.

During February and March 2023, several thousand demonstrators took part in numerous anti-government protests in the capital of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, and other important cities of Moldova. The protests were organized by oligarch Ilan Shor.

The sanctioned individuals were part of a conspiracy to profit from the protests in Chisinau and seize the Government House of the Republic of Moldova.

Who are the members of the influence group?

Kostiantyn Prokopievych Sapozhnikov, Yuri Yuriyovich Makolov, Glib Maksimovich Khloponin, Svitlana Andriivna Boyko, Oleksiy Vyacheslavovich Losev, Vasyl Viktorovich Gromovikov and Anna Travnikova are members of this Russia-linked criminal influence group that is trying to destabilize the Moldovan government. US Treasury.

All are found to be responsible for, complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged in or attempted to engage in activities that undermine the peace, security, political stability, or territorial integrity of the United States, its allies, or partners for, on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly indirectly, the government of the Russian Federation.

“As stated in the March 10, 2023 White House statement regarding Russia’s attempts to destabilize Moldova, this was an attempt by Russia-linked actors of malicious influence to foment an artificial insurgency against the government of Moldova,” the statement said.

• Konstantin Prokopievich Sapozhnikov is the leader of the mentioned group of malicious influence and organized a conspiracy to destabilize the government of the Republic of Moldova in early 2023.
• Yuriy Yuryevich Makolov participated in the material and technical support of the conspiracy to destabilize the government of the Republic of Moldova.
• Hleb Maksimovich Khloponin participated in the collection of security data in various government buildings in Moldova in order to conspire to destabilize the government of the Republic of Moldova.
• Svitlana Andriivna Boyko is a high-ranking member of the mentioned criminal group of influence and managed the budget for the conspiracy to destabilize the government of the Republic of Moldova.
• Oleksiy Vyacheslavovich Losev confessed in Moldova to a conspiracy to destabilize the government of the Republic of Moldova.
• Vasyl Viktorovych Gromovikov participated in the financing of the conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the government of the Republic of Moldova.
• Anna Travnikova participated in operations to influence the group on foreign audiences. The operations were aimed at influencing public opinion abroad in favor of Russia in the context of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. In 2022, Travnikova coordinated with Boyko the promotion of pro-Russian narratives among audiences in several countries, including the United States.

Preparations for the protest were managed by an instructor team associated with Mykhailo Serhiyevich Potepkin.

The US government has previously revealed Russia’s attempts to use agents to undermine democracy in Moldova.

On October 26, 2022, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against Yuriy Igorevich Gudilina, Olga Yurievna Hrak, and Leonid Mykhailovych Gonin for their coordinated efforts in 2020 and 2021 to influence the results of elections in the Republic of Moldova.

As a reminder, on May 30, 2023, the EU imposed sanctions against several individuals from Russia and Moldova for participating in destabilizing activities against the government of the Republic of Moldova.

We also remind you that on March 12, the police of the Republic of Moldova announced that they managed to thwart the plan to destabilize the situation in the country, created by Russia after an agent infiltrated a group of saboteurs, and dozens of people were arrested.

It comes two days after the US accused Russia of trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova, including through protests, to install a government more favorable to its cause.

On February 13, President of Moldova Maia Sandu condemned Russia’s violent plan to undermine the Republic of Moldova and its pro-Western government.

Maia Sandu stated that the Russian plan of “subversive actions” on the territory of the Republic of Moldova is not new – there were attempts to destabilize the situation and undermine the state last fall, but they did not achieve their goal due to interference. protection of institutions and maintenance of public order.

According to her, from October to December, the police and the Security Service intervened in several cases of “organizations of criminal elements and stopped attempts at violence.”