/VIDEO/ “They will be in for a big surprise”: Police Chief explains the signs of electoral corruption

The head of the General Police Inspectorate, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, warns that Moldova’s legislation on electoral corruption has become significantly stricter, and those involved “will be in for a big surprise” very soon. Under the newly enforced Law No. 100, offering money in exchange for a vote is now punishable by up to six years in prison—triple the previous maximum sentence of two years.

Viorel Cernăuțeanu underscores that selling one’s vote “will cost far more than the payment received,” as the law now imposes substantial fines on both those who offer and those who accept money for influencing electoral behavior. Under the new provisions, merely promising money to sway a voter can lead to fines of up to 57,500 lei or even imprisonment. Voters who sell their ballot risk fines of up to 37,500 lei, while those who agree to participate in paid protests face penalties of 7,500 lei—even though, according to the police, participants at recent protests received just 300 lei.

To understand the scale of the phenomenon and how authorities are responding, click here to watch the video, where the police chief details how vote-buying networks operate and the risks facing those who become involved.

Cernăuțeanu notes that law-enforcement institutions have become far more effective in investigating electoral corruption cases and that procedural actions will intensify. He points out that several leaders of the criminal organization Șor have already been convicted, while others remain fugitives—clear proof, he says, that impunity in this field is no longer an option. “We will continue to carry out searches, detentions, and criminal investigations. Citizens must understand that encouraging such practices exposes them directly to criminal liability,” the IGP head stated.

A new and particularly concerning tool is the TAITO mobile application, which has emerged in recent months as a mechanism used to promote electoral corruption. Police say the platform has been accessed by tens of thousands of people enticed by the promise of easy money. Cernăuțeanu warns that no service is ever offered for free without hidden motives, and that seemingly attractive sums mask criminal intentions. The risks are even higher because users have provided personal data, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft, loans issued in their name, or other forms of fraud. “We must not sell our identity and our vote for 1,000 lei,” he emphasized.

Authorities say the scale of the problem is alarming. During last year’s referendum and presidential elections, an estimated 140,000 Moldovans allegedly sold their vote. To date, more than 25,000 people have already been sanctioned, and the total value of fines has reached approximately 16 million lei. Several individuals have ended up in court and may face forced execution for failing to pay the penalties.

To avoid becoming entangled in such schemes, police urge citizens to recognize clear warning signs of electoral corruption: being asked to photograph the ballot, being offered money or goods in exchange for a vote, promises of advantages or services, or any form of pressure or manipulation to support a specific candidate. Cernăuțeanu says police have access to the groups where such activities are organized and that tens of thousands of individuals are already being monitored. “It is only a matter of time before those involved are sanctioned. Very soon, they will be in for a big surprise when they become subjects of further investigations,” the IGP chief warned.

Video material produced in collaboration with TV8.