At approximately 0500 EST this morning, The Insider, a Latvian-based, independent, and Russia focused publication broke the story that former Moldovan Chief of the General Staff Gorgan leaked key intelligence to the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU) concerning weapons shipments to Ukraine. Gorgan’s GRU handler, Alexei Makarov was also given information on the domestic political situation in Moldova and information regarding Ukrainian military visits.
He was reportedly in contact with the GRU since 2004, but accelerated spying after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Moldovan Presidential Chief of Staff Balutel told press that crimes “must be punished in the harshest way” following the initial story.
By 0530 EST, Moldovan President Sandu withdrew state awards given to Gorgan.
Gorgan was born in 1969 and joined the Soviet Army when he was 18 years old. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he served in the Moldovan Army and attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth in 2001. He rose through the ranks of the Moldovan military and was appointed the Chief of the General Staff in 2019 by President Dodon. He was dismissed by President Maia Sandu in 2021. He now works at the United Nations.
