Moldova's Public Prosecutor, Alexander Stoyanoglu, confirmed that Turkey has granted its citizenship to the fugitive Moldovan businessman and politician Vladimir Blakhotnyuk, who is facing serious criminal charges in his homeland and Russia.

In an interview with the local TV8 channel, Stoyanoglu announced that the Moldovan authorities are looking for ways to punish Blakhotnyuk, 54, who is a former leader of the Moldovan Democratic Party and a former parliamentarian.

Blakhotnyuk fled Moldova in June 2019 and was staying for several months in the United States, but in January this year the US government declared him persona non grata and imposed sanctions on him.

Since then, media allegations have been reported that Blachotniuk resided in other countries before Turkey received him and granted him citizenship.

Moldovan authorities have dismissed an arrest warrant for Blakhotnyuk for forming and leading a criminal group, fraud and laundering huge sums of money.

Russia has also issued an arrest warrant for this Moldovan businessman for plotting the crime of assassination, money laundering and leading a criminal group working to sell drugs.

Despite these accusations, the International Police "Interpol" refused to issue an international arrest warrant for Blachotniuk.