Moldovan parliament official jailed for selling secrets to Russia

The head of the legal department in the Moldovan Parliament was selling state secrets to the deputy military attaché of Russia for CAD 690 to CAD 2,700. Ion Creanga will spend the next 30 days behind bars.

Prosecutors investigating the case of espionage for Russia reported that Ion Creanga, the head of the legal department in the Moldovan parliament, was selling state secrets. The amounts ranged from CAD 690 to CAD 2,700.

Creanga systematically passed state secrets and draft laws to the deputy military attaché of the Russian Federation, Dmitrij Kielow, an intelligence officer under diplomatic cover, reported the Moldovan portal Ziarul National on Monday.

Vitalie Chisca, a representative of the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), stated in court on Friday that Creanga received compensation for his actions.

"We are talking about information regarding parliamentary activities, draft laws, and other matters. It turned out that state secret information was also disclosed. The amounts ranged from CAD 690 to CAD 2,700," said Chisca.

Creanga was arrested for 30 days. Earlier, the Moldovan authorities announced the expulsion of a Russian diplomat for actions incompatible with diplomatic status. Moscow responded to this with the promise of an "adequate response."

The prosecutor added that Creanga did not want to testify, claiming he needed time to think. The second defendant, a border police officer who passed information about the airport in Chisinau to the Russians, did not plead guilty.

Both men were detained on the night of July 30 to 31. Creanga was caught "red-handed" meeting with Kielow at a venue in Chisinau.