FlyONE Raids: Searches Underway at Airline Offices

SIB, the Tax Service, the National Inspectorate of Investigations and prosecutors raided FlyONE offices, the homes of its founders and some employees, while Tofan denied any involvement at a briefing.

The FlyONE raids began today at 06:00 as part of a new criminal investigation, according to reports. Sources close to the investigation say that authorities carried out searches simultaneously at at least 20 addresses. These included the home and office of FlyONE Board Chairman Vladimir Chebotari.

This is not the first case of pressure on the company.

Since June 22, the state has been openly confronting FlyONE. The Council for the Examination of Investments of Importance to State Security (CEIISS) ordered the shareholders to sell their stakes within 90 days. It justified the decision by stating that “the founders mentioned in the SIS Order as persons linked to Vladimir Plahotniuc cannot engage in investment activities in areas related to state security.”

Why Are the Authorities Targeting FlyONE?

Vladimir Chebotari, whose home and office were searched today, previously spoke publicly about the origins of the company’s capital.

In an interview on Cinema 1, he said:

“The money accumulated within the group was reinvested into this company. Moreover, because the companies operate in the aviation sector, an ecosystem gradually emerged. The airline became only the third or fourth element of that ecosystem.”

He stressed that “the company’s growth is the result of enormous work by the entire team,” rather than anyone’s patronage.

Nevertheless, the authorities continue to stand by their position.

According to Ziarul de Gardă, the Council disclosed details of its June 22 decision for the first time in a response to the publication. It referred to a certain “SIS Order.”

The publication also notes that Chebotari denies any connection to Plahotniuc. He says that “political connections were an obstacle to the company’s development, not a source of help.”

Former Prime Minister Ion Chicu took an even more direct position during an appearance on Contrasens:

“There are many rumors and many signs that this is exactly what is happening. The developments at MoldATSA somehow reveal this. The moves involving FlyONE, when they are now being forced to sell their shares, are things that will take on a very ugly meaning for this country.”

In his view, the arrival of Polaris on the market represents an “attempt to enter the market.” He argued that companies of this type cannot otherwise compete except by creating problems for their competitors.

Former Officials Criticize the FlyONE Raids

Former Prime Minister Vlad Filat called the situation “a very dangerous precedent” and “a test for the Tofan government.”

“The fact that there are discussions that he was a person from Plahotniuc’s team and so on does not give anyone the right to attack the business that was created. And it is a large business. It is unfair,” Filat said.

He added that he had personally discussed the issue with representatives of the European Commission.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan himself rushed to distance himself from the raids.

“Of course, the justice system has complete freedom to do whatever it considers necessary. If you have the impression that someone from here is calling a prosecutor and telling him what to do, I want to assure you that this is not how things are done,” he said at an urgently convened briefing.

He also said that if he allowed himself to “give instructions to a prosecutor,” he “would be arrested for interfering with justice.”

This haste raises questions, according to the article. The prime minister, who is usually reluctant to comment on ongoing criminal cases, considered it necessary to publicly defend himself before investigators had presented even one official version of events.

“Is This Intimidation for Polaris?”

Sergiu Ungureanu was even more direct in a comment on Telegram:

“Is the intimidation continuing for the sake of Polaris, or… do they have something else in mind?”

He also drew attention to the symbolic choice of the day:

“Thursday and Friday were Plahotniuc’s favorite days for arrests. Because those detained today will be taken into custody on Saturday, when people are resting, the press is sleeping, and the random case allocation system at the Ciocana court operates with only one duty judge.”

Vlad Bilețchi described those pursuing FlyONE as people who “come to a conversation with a club.”

“Do not have any illusions — there is a political issue behind this, and behind that stands an emissary! This is a vindictive person who ‘bangs your head against the asphalt’ when you offend him. After they failed to take the business through a decision based on a repealed, expired and legally invalid law, they secretly pushed an amendment to another law to legalize that decision.

Now, after Chebotari appeared publicly and spoke on several programs — they came with a club.”

Bilețchi also warned Tofan about the potential consequences for foreign investors:

“Mr. Tofan, you are wasting your time calling foreign investors. They can see what is happening to a company with more than €1 billion in investments and representing 1% of GDP.”

He suggested that if Chisinau continues to pursue private businesses that remain outside the authorities’ control, investors could avoid Moldova.

Dispute Over FlyONE Ownership

Bilețchi also accused the authorities of using state institutions to pursue what he described as commercial interests while ignoring the law:

“FlyONE are not saints. They have enough sins and mistakes. But they should answer for them legally, properly and on time — not on the orders of someone who wants to push his own company into the market and uses the state to achieve his personal goals!”

No one has received official charges so far.

However, the fact that law enforcement agencies searched a company with a stated value of more than €1 billion during an ongoing dispute over its shareholders has already drawn attention.

The prime minister’s decision to publicly distance himself from the operation before investigators announced an official version has also fueled questions.

For now, the investigation continues. The authorities have not publicly presented charges against those whose homes and offices they searched.

The FlyONE raids have therefore added another chapter to the dispute surrounding the airline, its shareholders and the government’s approach to businesses considered strategically important for Moldova.