Moldovan court jails trio over Russian-run ‘militia’ training camps in Bosnia

A court in Moldova has sentenced three citizens to significant prison terms for their involvement in Russian-managed training camps located in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, designed to destabilise the country’s democratic processes.

In a ruling delivered on 6 February, the Chisinau District Court found Aliona Gotco, Ludmila Costenco, and Vladimir Harcevnicov guilty of participating in the clandestine camps during 2024. Vladimir Harcevnicov received the heaviest sentence of five years and four months, while Gotco and Costenco were handed terms of four years and one month, and four years, respectively. All three defendants were absent from the sentencing, prompting the court to issue immediate warrants for their arrest.

Drones and stun bombs

The convictions follow a sophisticated intelligence operation launched in late 2024 by Moldovan police and the SIS intelligence service. Authorities uncovered a network of training sites intended to sow unrest during Moldova’s presidential elections and the landmark referendum on EU accession, outcomes the Kremlin has moved aggressively to undermine.

Evidence presented during the trial detailed a sprawling operation involving Russian instructors, some of whom have been linked by intelligence services to the notorious Wagner Group. Witnesses described a camp north of Banja Luka, in the village of Glamočani, where participants were trained in the tactical use of drones. These aircraft were reportedly modified with mechanisms designed to drop smoke and stun bombs.

While the defendants admitted to staying at the Bosnian site, they maintained their innocence regarding the plotting of civil unrest. Some participants claimed they had been lured to the Balkans under the guise of a holiday, only discovering the true nature of the "training" upon arrival.

Denial in the Balkans

The case has ignited a diplomatic firestorm in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite the detailed testimonies and the ongoing investigation by the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, senior leaders in the Serb-run entity of Republika Srpska, including Milorad Dodik, have flatly denied the existence of the camps. This stance is mirrored by the Russian Embassy in Sarajevo, which has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

The influence of external powers remains a focal point for the region. Under the administration of the incumbent US President, Donald Trump, the shifting geopolitical landscape in the Balkans continues to face scrutiny as Moldova struggles to insulate its judicial and political systems from foreign interference.

The defendants have two months to appeal the verdict.