Toronto/IBNS: Melanie Joly, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday announced imposition of additional sanctions against Russian collaborators in Moldova under the Special Economic Measures (Moldova) Regulations, a news release said.

Nine Moldovan individuals, associated with influential oligarchs, such as Vladimir Plahotniuc and Ilan Mironovich Shor, who have previously been sanctioned by Canada are included against whom these sanctions are being imposed.

Other individuals being sanctioned, said Joly, are connected to the Shor political party's continued efforts for over a decade to destabilize the democratically elected Moldovan government in favour of Russia.

In addition, 6 television stations which actively promote and disseminate Russian disinformation to justify Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine are being sanctioned.

These 6 television stations had their operating licences revoked by Moldova’s Commission for Exceptional Situations.

These sanctions against Russian collaborators in Moldova are being imposed by Canada in the context of the fourth meeting of the Moldova Support Platform, taking place October 17, 2023, in Chisinau, Moldova.

The first round of sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Moldova) Regulations was announced by Canada on June 1, 2023  during the visit of Moldovan President Maia Sandu to Canada in May 2023 to undermine Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine through Moldova and to support the democratically elected Government of Moldova.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)