The Chisinau district court partially satisfied the request of the prosecutor’s office and arrested the head of the Moldovan Gagauz autonomy, Eugenia Gutsul, for 20 days. The defence promised to appeal the court’s decision.
Prosecutor Adrian Scutaru told reporters that Gutsul was charged under four articles: illegal financing of the election campaign for the post of Gagauz head in 2023, falsification of documents, falsification of declarations, and falsification of campaign finance reports.
Gutsul’s lawyer Sergiu Moraru said that the charges brought against Gutsul could be brought against any electoral competitor, because candidates do not know who donates and to what extent, and do not deal with reports.
Two criminal cases have been opened against Gutsul by the Moldovan investigation: illegal financing of her political activity (importing money from Russia) and participation in organising protests in Chisinau in 2022.
Gutsul denies all the charges. Yesterday, she said that she was allegedly offered to close the criminal case for dismissal from her position. Also, according to Gutsul, she was asked to give false testimony about the activities of the “Shor” party, which nominated her for the post of Gagauz chairwoman.
Eugenia Gutsul was detained in the evening of 25 March at the Chisinau airport while trying to leave the country. The National Anti-Corruption Centre said that the head of Gagauzia was detained for 72 hours, an action taken “as part of a criminal case”. The Kremlin condemned the detention of Gutsul.
Earlier, the National Anti-Corruption Centre completed the presentation of evidence in the case against Gutsul on the illegal financing of the pro-Russian party “Shor” banned in Moldova. According to the prosecution’s version, Gutsul, working as the secretary of this party, systematically imported into Moldova money received from an organised criminal group from Russia. The head of Gagauzia does not admit guilt and believes that the criminal case against her was fabricated by the Moldovan authorities.
Eugenia Gutsul was elected head of the region in May 2023 with the support of fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, whom Moldova sentenced to 15 years for corruption. Because of allegations of vote-buying, Moldovan President Maia Sandu refused to approve Gutsul as part of the government. In 2024, the European Union placed her on a sanctions list for destabilising the country.
Gagauzia is a predominantly Russian-speaking autonomous region. It traditionally favours rapprochement with Russia and opposes Moldova’s integration into the EU. According to the results of the referendum held in February 2014, more than 98% were in favour of Moldova’s integration into the Customs Union created by Moscow.
Moscow actively supports the autonomy through humanitarian, cultural and political projects, such as the pro-Russian Shor party. The Kremlin views Gagauzia as a tool to influence Moldova, in particular to deter its European integration and weaken the central government in Chisinau.