Romania Fears Moldova Instability After Ex-PM's Arrest

Romania expressed concern about the continuing political uncertainty in the neighbouring country after former Moldovan prime minister and leader of the ruling pro-European coalition, Vlad Filat, was detained on Thursday on suspicion of involvement in a $1.5 billion bank fraud.

Prosecutors said Filat had taken bribes worth $250 million from a businessman and had indirectly given him control of one of the three Moldovan banks from which a total of $1.5 billion disappeared ahead of the country's parliamentary elections in November 2014.

"We have conclusive evidence that Filat committed fraud worth hundreds of millions of euros at the Savings Bank. It is a very serious crime, and involves the destruction of evidence," the Moldovan prosecutor's office said.

Filat, who was prime minister from 2009 to 2013, has denied any wrongdoing and said the investigation was politically motivated.

Around 2,000 protesters gathered outside parliament in the Moldovan capital Chisinau on Thursday, the latest in a string of demonstrations over the missing money.

Romanian officials said they were closely monitoring developments.

"The fragile situation in neighbouring Moldova, as well as the frozen conflict in [Moldovan breakaway region] Transdniester, is always a reason of concern for Romania," Eduard Hellvig, the chief of Romania's internal intelligence agency, said on Thursday.

Political analyst Iulian Fota said that one of the biggest problems in Moldova remains corruption.

"There is a huge distrust of the political class in Moldova, that's why many people are going out into the streets to protest. The latest event [the detention of Filat] is a bad news for pro-European forces in Moldova," Fota said.

"I hope the situation in Moldova...