Romanian authorities have detained a former high-ranking Moldovan intelligence official on charges of treason, accusing him of systematically leaking state secrets to Belarus's state security service, the KGB. The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) announced on September 8, 2025, that it had executed an arrest warrant for Alexandru Bălan, the 47-year-old former deputy head of Moldova's Intelligence and Security Service (SIS).

The investigation, a complex cross-border operation, alleges that Bălan engaged in espionage activities starting in 2024. He is accused of meeting with Belarusian KGB officers on at least two occasions in Budapest, Hungary, between 2024 and 2025. Prosecutors believe these meetings were held to exchange classified information for payment, directly jeopardizing Romania's national security. The case underscores the persistent and aggressive intelligence operations being conducted by states like Belarus and Russia within the European Union's eastern flank.

The successful operation was a result of extensive international collaboration under the umbrella of EUROJUST, the EU's agency for criminal justice cooperation. Romania's intelligence service (SRI) worked closely with partner agencies in Hungary, Czechia, and Poland. Crucially, Moldova's own SIS provided support in the final stages, signaling a commitment to rooting out hostile foreign influence despite the reputational damage this case may cause.

Timeline of Espionage

2016: Alexandru Bălan is appointed deputy director of Moldova's SIS, reportedly with backing from controversial oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc.
2024 - Present: Bălan allegedly begins collaborating with Belarusian KGB, divulging Romanian state secrets.
2024 - 2025: The suspect holds at least two clandestine meetings with KGB officers in Budapest, Hungary, to exchange information and receive payments.
September 8, 2025: Romania's DIICOT, supported by SRI, executes an arrest warrant for Bălan on charges of treason.

Impact Analysis

This high-profile espionage case has significant repercussions for multiple stakeholders. For Moldova, it severely damages the reputation of its intelligence service (SIS) and raises critical questions about internal security vulnerabilities and potential infiltration by hostile actors. For Belarus, the exposure of its KGB operations in the EU is a significant intelligence failure. Conversely, the successful joint investigation is a major victory for Romanian, Polish, Czech, and Hungarian intelligence services, demonstrating the effectiveness of NATO and EU security cooperation. The case serves as a stark warning to businesses and government agencies about the heightened risk of sophisticated espionage targeting sensitive information in the region.