The group of European investors who suffered a fraudulent attack on their 28% shares in Moldova Agroindbank (MAIB) received their shares back, as legal owners, following the Supreme Court ruling of September 14. A press statement from the investors, disseminated by the PR Agency BDR Associates and quoted by Info-Prim Neo, says the shareholders group welcomes the rapid and effective actions taken by the Moldovan government and is pleased to see that the legal and regulatory system ultimately worked in Moldova. The shareholders believe that this case was an important opportunity for Moldova to demonstrate the rule of law in the country, and are pleased that the opportunity was taken. The shareholders group appreciates not only the actions taken in Moldova but also by the international diplomatic community, donors, and international financial institutions. It was widely understood that this case would be a test of Moldova’s suitability as an environment for investment, and if the test was failed the country may have difficulties attracting the investments it needs. On September 28, the State Arbitration Court in Russia’s St Petersburg decided to annul the mysterious ad hoc arbitration award that was the legal basis for the attack. To this day neither the case files for this arbitration, nor the three arbitrators who presided over it, have been found. This decision underlines the fraudulent nature of the attack and should reduce any potential for the attackers to appeal to European courts, says the press statement. The group comprises six European entities and individuals from Slovenia and the Netherlands. The investors have been shareholders in MAIB since 2006/2007.