The Mexican identity of the former Democratic leader Vladimir Plahotniuc is false, Joaquín Álvarez, a spokesperson for Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.

"I confirm that the passport is fictitious," Álvarez told OCCRP after reporters entered the personal information from the passport into a website run by the Mexican government, which contains the Clave Única de Registro de Población, an ID code for all citizens and residents. The information from Plahotniuc’s passport did not turn up a match.

Two weeks ago, the head of the General Police Inspectorate Viorel Cernăuțeanu told ZDG that Vlad Plahotniuc allegedly has a Mexican passport with the surname Gonzalez. "Certainly, it cannot be a legally obtained passport," said Cernăuțeanu.