Gagauzia's head, Guțul, detained in Moldova
Evghenia Guțul, head of Gagauzia in Moldova (photo: x.com/EvgheniaGutul)
The head (bashkan) of the Gagauzia autonomous region of Moldova, Evghenia Guțul, was detained at Chisinau airport. She is a suspect in a criminal case involving accusations of receiving money from Russia to fund the now-banned pro-Russian Shor party, according to the Moldovan edition News Maker.
Initially, information about Guțul's detention at the airport when leaving Moldova appeared on the Gagauznews portal, accompanied by a relevant video. The footage was released on the evening of March 25.
It is noted that law enforcement officials took Guțul's passport.
Later, information about the detention of the head of Gagauzia was confirmed to the media by the press secretary of the National Anti-Corruption Center of Moldova, Angela Stărinski. According to her, details about the situation will be announced on Wednesday.
Case regarding Guțul
In April of last year, a case against the head of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, was brought to court in Moldova. She is accused of transporting money from Russia, which was then used to finance political activities.
Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Moldova completed its investigation and sent the case against Guțul and the head of the Shor party's main office in Chișinău to court.
According to the investigation, Guțul, while working as a secretary for the unconstitutional Shor party, systematically and daily imported money from Russia into Moldova from 2019 to 2022. These funds were used to finance the party's political activities.
She is also accused of coordinating the activities of certain party offices. According to law enforcement, Guțul, as an accomplice in the crime, was responsible for verifying lists and rewarding participants in protests held near government buildings in Chișinău from October to November 2022.
Additionally, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office accuses Guțul of knowingly receiving money from an organized criminal group to finance the party's activities - almost 42.5 million lei (2.3 million USD). She faces up to 7 years in prison.
Guțul's ties with Russia
Evghenia Guțul was elected head of Gagauzia (an autonomous territorial unit within Moldova) in 2023. Her candidacy was nominated by the pro-Russian Shor party.
In early April 2024, Moldova's President Maia Sandu accused Guțul of supporting Russia's war against Ukraine. This statement followed Guțul's visit to Moscow, where she met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Additionally, last spring, it was reported that pro-Russian forces from Moldova had traveled to Moscow, where they formed a new anti-European political bloc that supports Guțul.
In June 2024, the US imposed sanctions on Guțul. According to the US State Department, she plays a direct and active role in the corrupt activities of the Shor network and may have facilitated the importation of cash from Russia, its illegal concealment, and the use of these funds to support the political projects of the oligarch.
