Saturday, June 4, 2016

Moldova Is Rattled as Washington Welcomes a Feared Tycoon

Moldova's genuinely Pro-Western Moldovians feel betrayed that U.S. Secretary of State, Victoria J. Nuland was standing "shoulder-toshoulder" with Vlad Plahotniuc, otherwise known as Plaha which is a Russian word that refers to the block of wood used in an execution. Plaha has a reputation of threatening and blackmailing others for his own gain. For example, The host of a political talk show, Natalia Morari, was threatened by one of Plaha's associates with a smear campaign that would feature an illegally filmed sex tape in her bedroom. Morari described Plaha as being for pro-corruption. With a reputation that toxic, one wonders why a U.S. politician would be caught dead speaking to him. This is obviously a large blow for the U.S. and its ties with Moldova.

-by Tyler Linthakhanh

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/04/world/europe/moldova-vlad-plahotniuc.html?ref=todayspaper

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