Vladimir Plahotniuc
Wladimir Georgijewitsch Plahotnjuk
Date of Birth: 01.01.1966
Wladimir Georgijewitsch Plahotnjuk - Moldovan politician, businessman, first vice-speaker of the Moldovan Parliament (2010-2013). He was a member of the Moldovan Parliament twice: from December 2010 to October 2013 and from December 2014 to July 30, 2015. Currently under sanctions from the USA, Canada, and all EU countries.
Place of Birth. Education. Born on January 1, 1966, into a family of teachers in the Moldovan village of Petuschkow in the Kalarasch district, MSSR. Attended the secondary school in the village of Grosetscht in the Nisporen district, graduating in 1983 with a gold medal.
In 1991, he received his first higher education diploma from the Technical University of Moldova, Faculty of 'Food Technology', as an engineer. In 2002, he obtained a master's degree in management within the same university program.
In 2006, he earned a second higher education diploma from the State University of Moldova, Faculty of 'Law', as a lawyer.
Career. From 1991 to 1993, he held the position of a specialist at the Center for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Juvenile Offenders 'Minor' in the City Hall of Chisinau. He worked as an economist in a foreign-funded company Euro Est Hundel Ltd Moldova and then in the company Voyage Ltd Moldova.
In 1995, he founded the Moldovan-American financial group 'Angels', which he led until 2001.
From 2001, he was appointed as the trading director of one of the largest companies for the import and sale of petroleum products AO Petrom Moldova. Later, he became the general director of the company and held this position until 2010.
In 2005, he was elected vice-chairman of the board of the joint-stock commercial bank Victoriabank, one of the largest banks in the Republic of Moldova. In 2006, he was elected chairman of the board of the joint-stock commercial bank Victoriabank and held this position until January 2011.
Political Career. On November 19, 2010, the political department of the Democratic Party of Moldova (DPM) decided to include Wladimir Plahotniuc in the party list in second place. From this moment on, he became a candidate for the position of deputy in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.
In December 2010, he became a member of Parliament; in October 2013, he resigned his mandate.
On December 30, 2010, during a session of the National Political Council of the Democratic Party, Plahotniuc was appointed as the deputy chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova. On that day, he was also elected first deputy speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. He later became a member of the parliamentary commission for economy, budget, and finance. He was also a member of the Economics, Budget, and Finance Commission of the Moldovan Parliament.
On May 19, 2011, Marian Lupu decreed the establishment of the National Council for Justice Reform, in which Plahotniuc was appointed as deputy chairman.
In June 2012, Plahotniuc was elected first deputy chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova. In December 2014, Plahotniuc was re-elected as a member of the Moldovan Parliament, and in July 2015, he resigned his mandate again 'to focus his political activity on the restructuring of the party,' as he said.
On January 13, 2016, the Democratic Party nominated Plahotniuc for the position of Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, but his candidacy was rejected by the Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti. Timofti stated in an official announcement that 'Plahotniuc does not meet the criteria for the post of Prime Minister.' He later outlined conditions for the future Prime Minister and reminded that 'his integrity should not be questioned.'
On December 24, 2016, Plahotniuc was elected as the chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova at the VIII Congress of the Democratic Party.
On June 16, 2019, the Democratic Party agreed to a peaceful transfer of power to a new coalition, and the government of Pavel Filip resigned. Subsequently, a number of prominent Moldovan politicians, including Plahotniuc, left the country. On June 24, Plahotniuc announced his resignation as chairman of the DPM.
Business. Plahotniuc's entrepreneurial activity encompasses the following areas: the oil market, finance and banking, hospitality, media, and real estate.
Before joining the ranks of the Democratic Party of Moldova on July 26, 2010, Plahotniuc founded the Association of Entrepreneurs of Moldova (ABM). At the initiative of Plahotniuc, ABM began to cooperate with the Moldovan Academy of Sciences.
Wladimir Plahotniuc is also known as the founder of the 'Edelweiss' Foundation, which is involved in the implementation of various social projects in Moldova. The foundation conducted many cultural projects - book donations, music events and artistic activities, support for Moldovan athletes, financial support for those needing medical care, and much more.
Protests. During the protests in Moldova in 2015-16, protests occurred outside the Global Business Center - the location of Plahotniuc's companies. In January 2016, after the parliamentary majority nominated Plahotniuc as Prime Minister, President Nicolae Timofti immediately rejected this proposal. Mass protests against Plahotniuc and the DPM took place in Chisinau, demanding his resignation and reforms in the country.