A former chief of police from the Republic of Moldova, Gheorghe Cavcaliuc, who lives in London, is recruiting paramilitary forces to topple the regime of the pro-western president Maia Sandu and replace it with a pro-Kremlin government, according to a report received by the British foreign ministry and obtained by The Times. Radio Chișinău says the accusations were confirmed by Maia Sandu’s government. The latter also says the UK is yet to approve the extradition of the ex-police chief as requested by the Moldovan authorities. The chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood said it was „baffling” why the UK has not extradited Cavcaliuc. Ellwood is quoted as saying that London has for years built a reputation as a safe haven for east-European oligarchs with often strong links with president Putin, but that this is changing after Ukraine’s invasion. He also said one should not limit to Ukraine if one is serious about supporting democracy in Europe.
