Sandu Stripped Former Deputy Head of Moldova's SIB of Citizenship Following an Exchange with Russia
Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed a decree revoking the citizenship of Alexandru Belan, the former deputy director of the Information and Security Service (SIS).
According to the publication, Belan had previously been convicted of disclosing state secrets and left the country in May 2026 as part of an exchange.
As part of this agreement, Moldova repatriated two SIS officers who had been detained in Russia.
On April 28, two officers of the Moldovan special services were released in Russia. In exchange, the Moldovan side handed over Alexandru Belan, who at that time had already been convicted of state crimes.
He was subsequently pardoned, which allowed him to leave the country and travel to Belarus.
On June 23, the President of Moldova signed a decree definitively stripping Belan of his Moldovan citizenship following the completion of the exchange procedure and his departure from the country.
This was reported by Newsmaker.
Earlier, the Moldovan Information and Security Service (SIB) reported a large-scale collection of Moldovan citizens’ personal data by Russian intelligence agencies.
Previously, Montenegro’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador Alexander Lukashik over his public statements, which were described as “open and unacceptable interference” in the country’s internal affairs.
