General Igor Gorgan, the former chief of staff of the Republic of Moldova's army, has been officially charged with alleged espionage in favor of Russia, according to the Spanish news agency EFE and Moldovan media.
The Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS) announced that Gorgan is now formally accused but remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
In July, Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu removed Gorgan's decorations after The Insider revealed his suspected ties with Russian intelligence.
Gorgan has denied these allegations.
Communication through Telegram
The Insider claimed to have accessed Telegram messages showing Gorgan communicating with Colonel Alexei Makarov, an alleged Russian GRU operative.
The portal reported that Gorgan was providing Moscow with information on Moldova’s internal politics and the movements of Ukrainian Defense Ministry representatives.
According to The Insider, Gorgan maintained a network of contacts within Moldova's Ministry of Defense and had regular interactions with Makarov from April 2022, following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Their meetings reportedly took place in Chisinau cafes or during fishing trips, with Gorgan allegedly expressing concerns about arms shipments to Ukraine and advising Makarov to close the border with Romania to restrict military cargo.
Former Prime Minister Vlad Filat, who appointed Gorgan, has questioned the accusations, noting that Gorgan’s appointment was approved by the Liberal Democratic Party, Moldovan intelligence, and the U.S. embassy.
President Sandu, seeking re-election on October 20, continues to denounce Russian interference, while her opponents accuse her of repressive tactics.
