Former deputy of the Republic of Moldova, oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc got Turkish citizenship by investing in property. Having left his country, the Moldovan politician secured himself by obtaining a Turkish "golden passport". Until June 2019, Plahotniuc ruled the Republic of Moldova, being one of the richest people in the country. In the summer 2019, when the Moldovan government resigned as a result of the political crisis, Vladimir Plahotniuc, among several key politicians, had to leave his homeland. Having received Turkish citizenship by property investment, Plahotniuc (against whom several criminal cases have been initiated in Moldova and Russia) protected himself, since Turkey does not extradite its citizens. Moreover, such extradition is prohibited in Turkey at the legislative level.