Moldovan Man Condemned for Spying is Released

Published December 10, 2015

CHISINAU, Moldova-- Separatists in Trans-Dniester, a breakaway region of Moldova, have released a man who was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of spying.

Ilie Cazac, a 25-year-old Moldovan tax inspector working in Trans-Dniester, was jailed in February after being convicted of secretly sending information about the region to Moldovan officials.

Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat says Igor Smirnov, Trans-Dniester's separatist leader, freed Cazac on Monday as a result of on-going negotiations about Moldova and Trans-Dniester that include officials from Russia, the U.S. and the EU.

Trans-Dniester fought a war with Moldova in 1992 that killed 1,500 people. The region is not internationally recognized but is supported by Russia, which has around 500 troops stationed there.