Consul in Istanbul arrested for “facilitating entry of terrorists” in the Republic of Moldova

The General Consul of the Republic of Moldova to Istanbul, Veaceslav Filip, was arrested on Wednesday evening by the Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s office in a passive corruption case. The operation happened on the Chișinău International Airport.

The general prosecutor Eduard Harunjen and secret service director Mihai Bălan mentioned that the entire staff of the Consulate is suspected of corruption during a press conference.

According to collected evidence, the consul received money and goods on the consulate territory in Istanbul in return for simplifying some consulate services. Bălan mentioned that the consulate offered travel documents “without seeing the people in person”.

The consul is accused of facilitating the process of entry documents for arab citizens, which the officials consider a violation of the rules related to the policy on the fight against international terrorism.