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Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Moldovan region rejects ruling against local Euroskeptic leader
The parliament of Gagauzia, Moldova's predominantly Russian-speaking autonomous territory, has rejected a court ruling against the regional leader, Evgenia Gutsul, calling it illegal and politically driven. Gutsul, who was elected in 2023 and has advocated for close ties with Russia, was found guilty on Tuesday and sentenced to seven years in jail. She was accused 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
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
UN urges ‘due process' for jailed Moldovan regional leader
Moldova must respect Evgenia Gutsul's right to appeal and ensure her 'a fair trial and due process,' the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) told RT on Thursday. Moscow has summoned an extraordinary UN Security Council meeting to address what it calls the persecution of the politician. Earlier this week, Gutsul was convicted of receiving illegal campaign funds from an organized criminal group and channeling them to the Euroskeptic SOR party, which was banned in Moldova in 2023. She was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined 40 million Moldovan lei ($2.3 million). Her legal team has vowed to appeal the court's decision. 'We are aware of the decision in the case of Ms. Gutsul, but we do not have the details of the ruling. Her right to appeal the decision must be respected, as well as her rights to a fair trial and due process,' OHCHR spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told RT. Russia has called an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council over the Gutsul case. The meeting is scheduled to take place later on Thursday, according to Russia's permanent envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky. While the meeting will be convened behind closed doors, Polyansky and other Russian diplomats are expected to address the media afterward. 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 party candidate, shortly before the party was outlawed in Moldova due to allegations of illicit foreign funding. Gutsul campaigned on promises of forging closer ties with Russia, in contrast to the pro-Western stance of President Maia Sandu's government. The parliament of Gagauzia has rejected the court ruling, stating that it still recognizes Gutsul as the head of the region. Gutsul has firmly denied any wrongdoing, repeatedly stating that the case against her was orchestrated as an attempt at political assassination.
Russia Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU candidate resorting to ‘political terrorism'
Moldovan opposition politician Ilan Shor has accused the government in Chisinau of resorting to 'political terrorism,' after a court sentenced Evgenia Gutsul, the Euroskeptic governor of the autonomous Gagauzia region, to seven years in prison. Gutsul was convicted on Tuesday of receiving funds from organized crime and funneling them into the now-banned SOR party, which was founded by Shor. Moldovan prosecutors alleged that the funds were illegally used to finance anti-government political activities. The SOR party had backed Gutsul's candidacy in the 2023 Gagauzian elections, prior to being outlawed. Shor is currently exiled and is based in Russia. 'This is not a fight when you are empty-headed and your opponent is armed with an assault rifle,' Shor said in an interview with Russian media on Wednesday 'I believe this is straight political terrorism.' Gutsul has denied any wrongdoing and called the court ruling 'a political execution, planned and carried out on orders from above.' The Russian government echoed this stance, accusing Moldova of political repression and further eroding the country's democratic institutions. Shor expressed hope that Gutsul's sentence could be overturned on appeal. He argued that if Gutsul were not an opposition politician, she would only have received the same kind of punishment for a much more serious crime such as murder. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has branded groups critical of her government as a threat to national sovereignty and has accused them of attempting to destabilize the country in favor of Moscow. Sandu's government seeks accession to the European Union and has claimed that a crackdown on the opposition is necessary to safeguard EU integration. Shor, however, argued that Sandu was acting on behalf of foreign interests, saying Western governments have 'privatized' Moldova and now treat it 'as just another colony' headed by a 'hired manager.' He said he hoped that 'in the immediate future we will topple this vile inhumane regime.'
Russia Today
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Democracy being trampled in Moldova
Tuesday's sentencing of Moldovan regional leader Evgenia Gutsul is a politically motivated decision and an example of democracy being trampled in Moldova, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. Gutsul, elected head of EU-candidate Moldova's Gagauzia region, was sentenced by a Chisinau court to seven years in prison on charges of illegally financing the banned Euroskeptic SOR party. She has denied the allegations and called the case an attempt to eliminate opposition to Moldova's pro-Western government. 'This is truly an example of a politically motivated decision, this is an example of attempts to exert blatant and, in fact, illegal pressure on political opponents during the election campaign,' Peskov told reporters. He accused the Moldovan authorities of suppressing dissent, stating that 'the opposition is being squeezed in every possible way in Moldova. In fact, people are being deprived of the opportunity to vote for those they prefer.' 'The rules and norms of democracy are being trampled in every possible way now in this country,' Peskov added. Gutsul was elected head of Gagauzia, the autonomous and predominantly Russian and Turkic-speaking region in southern Moldova, after winning the 2023 election as a SOR candidate. She campaigned on promises of closer ties with Russia and opposed Moldovan President Maia Sandu's push for integration with the EU and NATO. In March, she was detained over allegations of campaign financing violations and falsifying documents. Gutsul has maintained her innocence and appealed to both Russia and Türkiye to apply pressure on the Moldovan government to defend Gagauzia's rights. Moscow has repeatedly condemned the case against Gutsul. In July, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the prosecution an example of 'European anti-values in action' and accused Brussels of turning Moldova into a 'liberal dictatorship.' The EU had previously sanctioned Gutsul for 'promoting separatism,' maintaining 'close ties with Russia,' and allegedly threatening Moldova's sovereignty. Her prosecution has triggered street protests in the capital, Chisinau, with supporters describing the trial as a politically driven attempt to neutralize the opposition and accusing President Sandu of authoritarianism.
