Following on from our last article where we revealed Russian FSB agent Yuriy Gudilin’s business deals and influence in Moldova’s political landscape. Our continuing investigation exposes the deep connections between Gudilin, Moldovan politicians, and the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). As we explore these connections and their ties to the FSB, it becomes clear that Russia’s influence in Moldova runs far deeper than previously thought, with significant implications for the country’s upcoming elections.
In June of this year, the 28th SPIEF took place in Vladimir Putin’s hometown. Once known as ‘Russia’s Davos’, the conference was created to showcase the Russian economy to foreign investors and attract world leaders, symbolizing East-West cooperation. However, since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has become much less international, mainly attended by the Kremlin elite and their allies. While Russia’s war with Ukraine has undoubtedly been the main deterrent to potential guests, the forum’s links to the Russian security services cannot have helped.
The SPIEF is organized by the Roscongress Foundation, a state-linked entity that promotes Russia’s global image and facilitates business projects and investment. Our investigation suggests that Roscongress is also entangled in the FSB’s meddling in Moldova.
Uncovering the Ties Between SPIEF and the FSB
According to a report by the Dossier Center, Grigory Velikikh, Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation, is acquainted with FSB General Dmitry Milyutin. The Insider recently reported that Milyutin was dismissed from his post overseeing the FSB’s 5th Service work in Moldova, which likely included overseeing Yuriy Gudilin. The Insider reported that Milyutin “hardly communicated” with the new chief of the 5th Service, Alexei Komkov, who favored a more subtle approach to dealing with Moldova. In contrast, Milyutin was quoted as saying he was “ready to go to Moldova with a machine gun”.
Velikikh is said to have attended a party in honor of Milyutin, where he praised Milyutin as a ‘commander’ and expressed his pleasure in working with him. It is not clear whether he was alluding to Milyutin’s work overseeing FSB meddling in Moldova.
The 2025 SPIEF committee list also includes Sergei Korolev, First Deputy Director of the FSB. According to Important Stories, Komkov, the new chief of the FSB’s 5th Service, is a protégé of Korolev. This connection highlights the ongoing ties between Moldova and SPIEF, suggesting that despite changes in personnel, the links to FSB remain strong.
Shining a Light on Gudilin’s Network
In our previous article, we exposed the Roscongress Foundation’s involvement in a development plan for Chisinau, Moldova’s capital. The plan was signed by Ion Ceban, Mayor of Chisinau and leader of the Alternativa Bloc, with RK Invest, a subsidiary of Roscongress. The agreement was facilitated by Yuriy Gudilin, a sanctioned FSB officer. If you haven’t read the previous articles on “the Kremlin’s electrician”, you can find them here: Wiring Moldova for the Kremlin, and Power Lines: The Spreading Influence of the Kremlin’s Electrician.
Alternativa’s Ceban is known to have attended SPIEF on more than one occasion, and it seems other members of Moldova’s opposition parties have no qualms about doing so either.
Photographs from this year’s event show former Moldovan President Igor Dodon attending the event alongside fellow Socialist Party members Zinaida Greceanii, Grigore Novac, and Vladimir Odnostalco. Notably, Dodon worked with Yuriy Gudilin, a sanctioned FSB officer, during his 2020 re-election campaign.
The Surge of Russian Influence at SPIEF
Moldovan politicians from other parties were also present, such as;
• Irina Vlah (Heart of Moldova)
• Vasile Tarlev (Future of Moldova)
• Diana Caraman (Communist Party)
Additionally, members of parties associated with Ilan Shor, a fugitive Moldovan oligarch, and his now-banned Victory Bloc have also been linked to SPIEF. Among them were;
• Natalia Parasca (Revival)
• Alexei Lungu (Chance)
• Vasile Bolea (Revival)
• Tatiana Cociu (FASM)
• Marina Tauber (who fled Moldova in January of this year)
• Vadim Fortescu
• Denis Ulanov
• Reghina Apostolova,
• and the man himself, Ilan Shor, who appeared on a panel in his capacity as CEO of the A7 company.
Photo: press service of the A7 company
The number of Moldovan politicians attending the forum is striking, with representatives from across the political spectrum in attendance. Notably, FSB’s Yuriy Gudilin has been linked to several high-profile attendees, including Alternativa Bloc member Ceban, Socialist Party leader Dodon, and Victory Bloc affiliate Vasile Bolea. RISE Moldova and the Dossier Center exposed Bolea alongside Vladimir Odnostalco as having associated with Gudilin and his Russian colleague Olga Grak during Dodon’s re-election campaign. This reveals the complex network of connections that the Kremlin is cultivating to expand its influence over Moldova’s politics.
Photo: RISE Moldova
Circuits of Influence
The Moldovan delegation used the SPIEF forum as an opportunity to shape Moldovan-Russian relations. During a bilateral business panel, members discussed increased cooperation in the agricultural and food industries. According to Pravda, a Russian news source, the participants reportedly expressed their opposition to the current Moldovan government’s policies and their desire to reorient the country’s foreign policy towards Moscow. Representatives from four Moldovan parties (Vlah, Dodon, Tarlev, and Caraman) also met with senior members of Russia’s Ministry of Energy to discuss cooperation in the energy field. Dodon reported that the “first round of negotiations” had been completed. This raises concerns about potential FSB involvement, similar to the deal between Alternativa’s Ceban and RK Invest, facilitated by Gudilin.
The talks fueled speculation that the four party leaders were planning to form a coalition at the upcoming parliamentary elections. This suspicion was later confirmed when Dodon announced the creation of the Patriotic Bloc of Socialists, the Heart and Future of Moldova. Bloc representatives declined to comment on whether the idea had originated in Russia. Despite their silence, their attendance at FSB linked SPIEF raises concerns about potential Kremlin influence over the proposed alliance.
Flip the Switch or Disconnect
As Moldovans prepare to cast their ballots in the upcoming parliamentary election, they are faced with a critical decision despite the numerous options on the ballot. The choice is stark: between parties that are closely aligned with Russia and those that promise a more independent future. Russia’s influence in Moldovan politics is a pressing concern, with individuals like Yuriy Gudilin, tied to the FSB, having been linked to Moldovan politicians. Gudilin’s and his role in brokering deals between Moldovan parties and Russian entities raise important questions about the extent of Russian influence.
As the election approaches, Moldovans must weigh their options carefully, considering whether to continue on a path that could lead to further Russian entanglement or to chart a different course that prioritizes their sovereignty and self-determination
