Israel-born pro-Russia fugitive offers to pay Moldovans thousands to protest Chisinau

Fugitive pro-Russian businessman Ilan Shor has offered Moldovans monthly payments of $3,000 to join anti-government protests, in a bid to undermine Moldova’s pro-European government ahead of parliamentary elections next month.

The Israel-born Shor, under Western sanctions for efforts to destabilize Moldova on Russia’s behalf, says he will make daily payments to each protester totaling a monthly $3,000 if they began protesting in the capital Chisinau starting on Saturday.

“Yes, I am… compensating you in such a way that already from Saturday you’ll feel the effects of the victory that we will soon achieve,” he says in a video posted to social media.

He added that accounts for payment would be opened up directly at the protest site.

Moldova’s National Police say in a statement that Shor’s message was “criminal incitement” and warned Moldovans they risked investigation if they engaged with the offer.

“Law enforcement will not allow criminal groups to organize illegal protests aimed at causing disorder and violence. Any attempt will be firmly rejected within the legal framework,” the police statement says.

Moldovan officials have regularly accused Moscow of meddling in their domestic politics by stoking pro-Russian sentiments in a subversive campaign to topple the government as it bolsters ties with the West, accusations Moscow denies.

Moldova says Shor, who was convicted of helping steal $1 billion from the country’s banking system in 2014, is Moscow’s primary agent of influence.