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Russia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Moldovan region rejects sentencing of local Euroskeptic leader
The parliament of Gagauzia, an autonomous, predominantly Russian-speaking region in Moldova, has rejected the sentencing of local Euroskeptic leader to seven years in prison, calling it illegal and politically driven. Gutsul, who was elected in 2023 and has consistently advocated for close ties with Russia, was found guilty of channeling illegal funds from an organized criminal group to the banned Euroskeptic SOR party and of financing protests against the Moldovan government. Gutsul denied the charges, calling the process a 'political execution' conducted 'on orders from above.' The ruling triggered protests outside the courthouse against Moldova's pro-Western government. The Gagauzian parliament rallied behind Gutsul. In a resolution issued Thursday by Gagauzia's People's Assembly and Executive Committee, MPs said they 'categorically reject and do not recognize the verdict' of the Moldovan court. The document described the ruling as a 'politically motivated' attempt 'to eliminate the legally elected head of the autonomous region.' 'We consider this verdict a political reprisal, planned and executed from above,' the resolution said, adding that the ruling was 'an act of political vengeance' that 'undermines the autonomous region's legal status.' The Gagauzian authorities said Moldova's government bears 'full responsibility for the destabilization' of the situation in the region, while suggesting that the crackdown seeks to tip the scales ahead of the nationwide parliamentary elections slated for late September. Moscow criticized the verdict as an attack on democracy. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the ruling was labeled in both Moldova and Gagauzia as 'an act of revenge' and 'a fabricated case' without credible evidence. 'It became the culmination of repression by the Chisinau regime against the entire Gagauz autonomy,' she added.
Russia Today
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Moldova jails Euroskeptic regional leader
A court in EU-candidate Moldova has sentenced the leader of the autonomous region of Gagauzia to seven years in prison on charges of illegally financing a Euroskeptic political party. Evgenia Gutsul, who denied the accusations and claimed the case was politically motivated, was convicted of receiving illegal campaign funds from an organized criminal group and funneling them to the Euroskeptic SOR party, which was banned in 2023. Gutsul was also accused of paying people to participate in anti-government protests organized by the SOR in 2022. In addition to the prison sentence, Gutsul has also been ordered to pay 40 million Moldovan lei ($2.3 million) to the state. Svetlana Popan, former secretary in the SOR Central Office, was sentenced to six years in prison in the same case. The sentences can be appealed. Commenting on the verdict, Sergiu Moraru, Gutsul's lawyer, said 'this is not a trial, but a public execution… I can't say that there is evidence there, there is fiction.' The court hearing attracted a crowd of protesters outside the building, with some shouting 'Shame on [Moldovan President] Maia Sandu.' A counter-rally was also held nearby, prompting police to establish a security cordon. Gutsul has served as the head of Gagauzia, an autonomous and predominantly Russian-speaking region in southern Moldova, since winning the 2023 election as the SOR candidate. Gutsul campaigned on promises of closer ties with Russia, in contrast with the pro-Western stance of the government of President Maia Sandu. The party was banned the same year on allegations of illicit financing from abroad. Gutsul has on numerous occasions accused the Moldovan authorities of launching criminal proceedings against her in a bid to oust her from power, suggesting that they 'don't like the fact that I am trying to help the [autonomous region's] residents.' Russia has condemned what it described as a Moldovan crackdown on Gutsul, calling it an example of 'European anti-values in action.'
Russia Today
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Jailed Moldovan regional leader slams verdict as ‘political execution'
Jailed Moldovan regional opposition leader Evgenia Gutsul, the head of the autonomous region of Gagauzia, has denounced her sentence as a politically motivated crackdown, warning that the verdict constitutes 'a blow to democracy' and a threat to anyone who challenges the country's pro-Western leadership. A court in Chisinau sentenced Gutsul to seven years in prison on Tuesday for allegedly financing the now-banned Euroskeptic SOR party – a charge she insists is part of a broader effort to silence dissent ahead of next year's elections. In a statement on Telegram published via her lawyers, Gutsul said the ruling 'has nothing to do with justice,' calling it 'a political execution, planned and carried out on orders from above.' She said the sentence was meant to intimidate residents of Gagauzia and silence critics. 'Today it's me behind bars – tomorrow it could be anyone who dares to criticize the authorities. This is not a sentence for me – it's a sentence for the entire democratic system of Moldova,' she wrote. Gutsul has served as the head of Gagauzia, a predominantly Russian-speaking region in southern Moldova, since winning the 2023 election as the SOR candidate. The party was banned later that year for allegedly accepting illicit foreign funding. Gutsul campaigned on promises of forging closer ties with Russia, in contrast with the pro-EU policies of President Maia Sandu's government. She accused Sandu's PAS party of fabricating cases and putting pressure on courts in order to hold onto power. 'This is a warning to all opposition: 'Go against the regime – and you'll get prison, confiscation, a ruined life.'' Gutsul was also accused of paying people to attend SOR-led anti-government protests in 2022 and ordered to pay $2.3 million in damages. Former SOR official Svetlana Popan received six years in the same case. Gutsul has vowed to appeal. The hearing drew rival protests outside the court. Police set up a security cordon as crowds gathered, with some chanting 'Shame on Maia Sandu.' The Kremlin called the ruling 'a politically motivated decision,' branding it an attempt to pressure opposition forces ahead of Moldova's September parliamentary election.
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Tribune Flyover ready for take-off after clearing ₹240-cr cost hurdle
Hanging in balance for six years, the Tribune Flyover project has moved a step closer to execution, with the Union ministry of road transport and highways giving in-principle approval to UT administration's revised cost estimate of ₹240 crore. Originally estimated at ₹ 137 crore in 2019, the project's cost has now escalated to ₹ 240 crore — a 75% bump over six years. (HT File) The ministry is expected to formally approve the estimate within a month, clearing the way for construction to begin. A meeting between officials from the UT engineering department and the ministry was held in Delhi on Friday, where it was conveyed that the revised cost will be approved soon. Originally estimated at ₹137 crore in 2019, the project's cost has now escalated to ₹240 crore — a 75% bump over six years. UT chief engineer CB Ojha, who attended the meeting, confirmed the development. 'The ministry asked us to reduce the cost by around ₹1 crore, which we have done. Once we receive the formal approval, the project will be executed,' he said. The flyover is being touted as a solution to the traffic mess in the vicinity of the busy Tribune Chowk. More than 1.43 lakh vehicles, including 1.35 lakh passenger car units (PCUs) cross Tribune Chowk — the rotary on the intersection of Dakshin Marg and Purva Marg — on a daily basis, as per original traffic projections. The proposed 1.6-km-long flyover will stretch from near the GMCH-32 roundabout to the railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg, passing over Tribune Chowk. Initially, the UT administration had planned a 7-km flyover, which the Centre later scaled down to 3.5 km and subsequently to 1.6 km. Since its inception in 2019, the project has faced repeated delays. The foundation stone was laid on March 3, 2019, by then UT administrator VP Singh Badnore. However, work was stalled in November 2019 after the Punjab and Haryana high court imposed a stay on tree cutting along the proposed route. The stay was lifted in May last year, after which the UT engineering department submitted a revised cost estimate of ₹240 crore in March this year. The estimate is based on the updated Schedule of Rates (SOR). The ministry had earlier issued a stern letter in January, pulling up the administration over the prolonged delay in submitting the revised figures. In March this year, Chandigarh member of Parliament Manish Tewari raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, following which the Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari clarified that a revised project report and estimate were in progress after lifting of stay order, considering the substantial time gap since the project's initial approval. The high court, while lifting the stay in May 2024, had underscored the project's urgency. 'The need is to ease traffic in such situations rather than obstruct development. The stay has set Chandigarh back by a decade,' the court had noted. It also highlighted that vehicles coming from Delhi and Dera Bassi into Chandigarh were facing delays of up to 90 minutes due to chronic congestion at the junction.
Malaysia Sun
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
EU creating liberal dictatorship in ex-Soviet country Moscow
The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the prosecution in Moldova of regional head Yevgenia Gutsul as politically motivated repression Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has denounced the Moldovan authorities' efforts to imprison the leader of the autonomous region of Gagauzia, Yevgenia Gutsul, calling it an example of "European anti-values in action." Gutsul, who was elected as Gagauzia's governor in July 2023, was detained on March 25 while attempting to leave Moldova. Authorities have accused her of illegally financing the banned Euroskeptic SOR party. She has denied the charges and called the case politically motivated. The Moldovan Prosecutor's Office requested a nine-year prison term for on Tuesday. In addition, authorities have called for a five-year ban on Gutsul holding public office. "The European anti-values are in action. From a hardworking country, Brussels is forging a liberal dictatorship," Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel. Gutsul's arrest has triggered protests outside the courthouse in Chisinau, with supporters calling the proceedings a politically driven attempt to neutralize opposition in the region. In October 2024, the EU also sanctioned Gutsul for "promoting separatism," maintaining "close ties with Russia," and allegedly threatening Moldova's sovereignty. President Maia Sandu's government, in power since 2020, has pursued rapid integration with the European Union and NATO. Opposition figures, including former President Igor Dodon and members of the Victorie party, have accused the government of repressing dissent and abandoning Moldova's traditional ties with Russia. Gutsul has appealed to foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to intervene. In a March letter, she urged Putin to exert pressure on Moldovan authorities for her release. Russian officials and opposition groups in Moldova have warned that the central government is increasingly using law enforcement to suppress political rivals and religious institutions. In recent months, clashes between police and Orthodox Christian demonstrators at protests have drawn additional criticism from pro-traditionalist factions. Gagauzia, a largely Russian-speaking autonomous region in southern Moldova, has historically favored closer ties with Russia and has opposed Moldova's integration with the European Union. In a 2014 referendum, more than 98% of voters in the region supported joining the Russia-led Customs Union. (
