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Minister Anand announces additional sanctions in response to Russia's malign interference activities in Moldova

Global Affairs Canada

News release

August 28, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing sanctions against sixteen individuals and two entities under the Special Economic Measures (Moldova) Regulations for their role in Russia's malign interference activities in Moldova.

These individuals have actively participated in coordinated efforts aimed at destabilizing the democratically elected government in Moldova. They are associated with politician and businessman Ilan Shor, who has been sanctioned by Canada, and who fled Moldova in 2019.

The individuals include officials and associates of Mr. Shor's political party, the Shor Party, which was sanctioned by Canada in June 2023, as well as former officials of Moldova and officials of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, a region in Moldova whose current administration has strong links to Russia. The list of sanctioned individuals also includes representatives of pro-Russian media from Moldova engaged in disseminating disinformation, as well as other participants in Russia's malign operations abroad.

Canada is also imposing sanctions against the Shor-led political bloc, Victory/Pobeda, which was launched in Russia as a successor to the Shor Party, as well as a Shor-backed paramilitary group and its leader, who were involved in organizing a series of anti-government protests in Moldova in 2023.

These measures are being announced as political actors and organizations under Mr. Shor's influence are ramping up their efforts to interfere in Moldova's next parliamentary elections, which will be held on September 28, 2025.

Quotes

"Canada strongly condemns any attempts to influence, interfere with, corrupt or discredit legitimate and democratic governments. Today, we reaffirm our support for the democratically elected Government of Moldova and its efforts to implement democratic reforms, counter malign Russian interference and regain full sovereignty in its internationally recognized borders."

- Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

• The first round of sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Moldova) Regulations was announced on June 1, 2023. It followed Canada's commitment made in May 2023 to undermine Russia's ability to continue its unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine through Moldova's territory; to counter Russian destabilization efforts in the region; and to support the democratically elected Government of Moldova.

• Since 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 3,300 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova that are complicit in the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada's allies and partners.