Large-scale forgery scheme uncovered
Romanian law-enforcement authorities have launched searches as part of an investigation into a cross-border criminal network that allegedly produced fraudulent passports and birth certificates for citizens of former Soviet states, primarily nationals of the Russian Federation. According to investigators, around 300 Russian citizens illegally obtained Romanian identity and citizenship documents between 2022 and 2024. The case was detailed in reporting examining how forged Romanian documents were issued through corrupt local structures, as outlined in this review of Romania’s probe into document fraud.
Among the beneficiaries were Russian oligarchs, businessmen and individuals wanted in Russia for criminal offences. Searches were carried out at 17 locations, including private residences and offices within public institutions. Prosecutors say the network relied on corrupt officials in Suceava county’s population registry and local mayoral offices to issue identity documents with falsified residence information and fictitious claims to Romanian citizenship. Many documents were issued without applicants ever appearing in person.
Stolen identities and falsified citizenship certificates
Romanian media report that Russian nationals paid between €15,000 and €40,000 for forged documents. In several cases, perpetrators allegedly used personal data of deceased Ukrainian soldiers, killed during Russia’s full-scale invasion, to obtain Romanian identity papers. Prosecutors say these documents often listed non-existent or abandoned properties as official residences, or used the names of property owners without their consent.
Investigators believe the network exploited legal loopholes and the lack of a centralised system to verify citizenship certificates issued by Romanian consulates abroad — particularly in Russia and Turkey. Around 280 Russian nationals reportedly presented forged certificates claiming Romanian ancestry or citizenship, allegedly issued by these consulates.
Previous raids point to long-running corruption
On 3 July 2025, Romanian authorities conducted 93 searches related to bribery and computer forgery involving public officials in Suceava county. Investigators found that in 2023–2024, approximately 1,700 individuals from Russia, Moldova and other former Soviet states had obtained fictitious Romanian residency. Prosecutors estimate the true number may exceed 7,000.
The case highlights a broader regional pattern. In December 2024, Russian billionaire Sergey Lomakin attempted to obtain Moldovan citizenship using falsified documents, including a forged birth certificate claiming Moldovan maternal origins. Moldova’s Public Services Agency detected the fraud and rejected the application. Lomakin, a major contributor to the Russian state budget through retail chains such as Kopeyka, Modis, Fix Price and CentroObuv, maintains close ties with the Kremlin.
In April 2024, a Bulgarian special commission uncovered 343 Russian applicants who had submitted falsified documents for citizenship after February 2022. The commission warned of vulnerabilities in the naturalisation process and the risks of granting citizenship to individuals from a country that classifies Bulgaria as a hostile state.
Growing concerns across Eastern Europe
The Romanian investigation underscores a growing security concern: the use of forged EU identity documents by individuals linked to Russian financial, political or criminal networks. Analysts warn that such schemes can be used to circumvent sanctions, facilitate cross-border mobility, or enable intelligence operations within the EU.
As Eastern European states tighten border controls and citizenship verification procedures, the case is likely to accelerate legislative reforms aimed at strengthening oversight, preventing corruption and improving regional cooperation against document fraud.
