The General Inspectorate of Police (GIP) of Moldova announced today, October 31, the arrest of a group of people who allegedly planned to set fire to the Central Election Commission building and several cars in the police parking lot “on orders from Moscow” . .”
According to Moldovan law enforcement officials, the saboteurs came from Transnistria. One of them arrived at the territory of the Ministry of the Interior in Chisinau and began photographing official cars there. Later, according to the General Inspection, he and his accomplices intended to destroy them through arson. They also reportedly planned to set fire to a government building.
“The first actions aimed at destabilizing the situation were recorded a few days ago, when police from the GIP security unit detected a person in the territory, or rather in the parking lot, photographing the personal and official vehicles of the employees and the address. The same person was also seen in the surrounding area, both from Albisoara Street and from the train station. When asked about the purpose of being on the territory of the General Inspection and the need to take photographs, the man appeared confused in his testimony and could not explain the reason.” — reported the police press service in a statement.
The man’s suspicious actions aroused the interest of law enforcement, who intensified operational surveillance of government institutions. During the observation process, other people were also seen photographing cars on the territory of the Central Election Commission and other government institutions. The State Police clarified that around 3:00 p.m. at night, police officers and members of the Fulger (Lightning) unit detained the entire group before trying to set fire to the vehicles.
Three hours later, another group of suspects was spotted near the Central Electoral Commission, “preparing to set fire to the entrance door of the institution.” They found two Molotov cocktails, gloves and clothing. The detainees are three men and two women aged 25, 28, 34 and 42, as well as an 18-year-old girl, all of them from Slobodzeya and Tiraspol (Transnistria).
“During interrogation, the detainees reported that they had been recruited by a man named Vladimir, who is now in Moscow. He ordered them to set fire to several cars in the parking lots of the State Police and the Central Electoral Commission. For these actions they were promised 5,000 dollars, which Vladimir had to transfer after completing the task. These testimonies were confirmed through correspondence sent to their phones, where they received specific instructions.” – they assure the secret police of Chisinau.
Currently, all detainees have been in custody for 72 hours. Police and prosecutors continue their investigation to identify all participants and associated persons.
