OTTAWA – Canada has imposed sanctions on seven people with ties to Moldova whom Ottawa considers “Russian collaborators” and a small political party in the eastern European country.

The new sanctions target the Shor Party and its founder, as well as Moldovan oligarchs, businessmen and politicians whom Canada sees as “linked to Russia”.

This decision follows the visit of the President of the Republic of Moldova (“Moldova” in Romanian) to Canada last month. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then announced to President Maia Sandu that Canada would impose sanctions on people living in Moldova for their ties to Russia.

Ms Sandu had said her government was threatened by “a Russian-initiated hybrid war” and Ukraine argued that a Russian plot to overthrow her government had been uncovered.

Among those subject to travel and financial transaction bans are three former politicians accused of laundering Russian funds who Britain is now considering extradition from London.

Canada is also targeting Marina Tauber, a sitting MP in Moldova who was arrested by anti-corruption officials last month for allegedly trying to flee the country.

Ottawa is also imposing sanctions on Vladimir Plahotniuc, a former politician based outside of Moldova who has been accused by courts in the US and Moldova of fraud and manipulating law enforcement to target opponents.

In a press release, the Canadian government states that “these targeted sanctions will serve to undermine Russia’s ability to continue its unwarranted invasion of Ukraine from Moldova, to counter Russia’s destabilization efforts in the region, and to support Moldova’s democratically elected government.”

Moldova, about the size of Vancouver Island, is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, an area along the border with Ukraine comprising about 10% of Moldova’s territory claimed independence, and since 1992 Russian troops occupied the area called Transnistria.

Also on Thursday, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee is hearing bureaucrats from across the federal government on Canada’s sanctions regime, after lawmakers and senators raised concerns the measures lack transparency and may not be fundamentally effective.