The former Democratic leader, Vlad Plahotniuc, investigated in absentia for fraud, money laundering, and leading a criminal organization, is rumored to be in Northern Cyprus. The statement was made by the Minister of Justice, Sergiu Litvinenco, for Pro TV. The official also says that discussions regarding the extradition of Plahorniuc, wanted since 2019, are difficult because the region is not controlled by Cyprus.

The Minister of Justice, Sergiu Litvinenco, announced that the Chisinau authorities received a response from Turkey to the request to identify the whereabouts of Vlad Plahotniuc. According to the note, the former Democratic leader is not in Turkey.

"The information we have and received unofficially is that he is in Northern Cyprus, a more specific region that is not controlled by Cyprus. We also have an answer from the Turkish authorities that he is not in Turkey," announced Minister Litvinenko, on the set of the "În profunzime" show.

Vladimir Plahotniuc left the Republic of Moldova in June 2019, after the withdrawal of the PDM from the government.

The exact location of former democratic leader Vlad Plahotniuc remains uncertain. There have been reports of his presence in the USA, Turkey, and Romania, but these have not been confirmed. The General Prosecutor's Office has taken steps to extradite Plahotniuc, submitting proceedings to the USA, Turkey, Cyprus, and the United Arab Emirates.

On October 29, 2019, the National Anticorruption Center declared former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc as wanted both nationally and internationally. This came after he failed to comply with a summons from anti-corruption prosecutors and did not present himself for a criminal investigation.

Vladimir Plahotniuc, the former leader of the Democratic Party, is facing serious criminal charges, including allegations of leading a criminal organization, fraud, and money laundering. The allegations stem from the period between 2013 and 2015 when the accused is said to have received over 39 million US dollars and 3.5 million euros in his accounts through intermediaries, linked to resident companies established by Ilan Şor. The funds were reportedly obtained through fraudulent bank loans from three Moldovan banks: BC "Unibank" SA, BC "Banca Socială" SA, and BC "Banca de Economii" SA.

According to the prosecutors, during the aforementioned period, Plahotniuc was the effective leader of the criminal organization, effectively controlling and managing the activities of several non-resident companies through intermediaries. Furthermore, the former PDM leader is believed to have purchased a plane worth 21 million dollars in 2015, using funds embezzled from Banca de Economii.