Vladimir Plahotniuc, a prominent Moldovan oligarch, has been extradited from Greece to Moldova to face trial for his alleged role in the country's largest financial scandal, which involved the disappearance of $1 billion from Moldovan banks in 2014. This fraud, termed the 'theft of the century,' represented about 12% of Moldova's GDP at the time. Plahotniuc was arrested in July while attempting to travel to Dubai and had been held in Greece for two months. His return is politically significant, coinciding with Moldova's parliamentary elections on September 28, which are seen as pivotal for the nation's alignment with the EU or Russia. Plahotniuc, who has denied all wrongdoing, faces serious charges including fraud, money laundering, and organized crime. His legal issues are compounded by accusations of Russian interference in the elections, with Moldovan authorities recently arresting individuals linked to alleged plots to incite unrest.