Pro-Russian businessman Ilan Sor, accused of buying voters to influence the election through Prut, has returned to self-imposed exile in Israel, an Interpol official said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Ilan Shor during the 2019 election campaignPhoto: Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP / Profimedia

The head of Interpol’s mission in the Republic of Moldova, Viorel Tentiu, said that Sor returned to Israel last Wednesday by plane, but Israeli officials could not say where he was or where his plane took off from.

“We only have confirmation that he landed at Ben Gurion Airport, but it is not known where he went and where he came back from,” Tentiu told Moldova-1 state television.

Tentiu previously said that Shor left Israel on November 6. Shor could not be reached for comment, Reuters said

In April, he was sentenced in absentia by a Moldovan court to 15 years in prison for multibillion-dollar bank fraud, and from Israel he organized street protests in the Republic of Moldova for months demanding the resignation of the pro-European government of President Maia Sandu.

The constitutional court outlawed his party and authorities barred his allies from running in last week’s local elections on behalf of another party.

Moldovan officials accused Sora of sending the equivalent of 50 million euros to Moldova to “buy” voters.

Tentiu said all Interpol member states have been asked to report if he is on their territory.

Ilan Shor left the Republic of Moldova in June 2019 after the Democratic Party handed over the government. Since then, the pro-Russian businessman has “organized” several anti-government protests in Chisinau from abroad, paying the participants.

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