Protesters Gather Outside Chișinău Court, Show Support for Detained Gagauzian Official
Protesters affiliated with the Moldovan opposition block “Pobeda” (Victory) gathered in front of the courthouse in the capital city of Chișinău to demonstrate their support for the detained head of the autonomous region of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul. The protesters, holding flags of Gagauzia and Moldova, chanted slogans, sang a popular Soviet song and held up signs expressing solidarity with Guțul.
Earlier, on the previous day, the opposition supporters organized a solidarity rally in front of the detention center where Guțul was being held. Similar rallies took place in Gagauzia’s capital, Comrat and several Gagauzian communities.
Guțul was arrested on March 25 at the Chișinău airport, with multiple corruption charges related to the 2023 Gagauzian elections, in which she won as a candidate for the opposition party “Șor”. On March 28, the Chișinău district court ordered the politician’s detention for 20 days, with a decision on a 30-day arrest request from the prosecutor’s office set for March 31. The court later postponed the verdict to the afternoon of April 1.
Guțul denies all allegations and her supporters claim that her persecution is politically motivated. Through her lawyers, Guțul has appealed to the presidents of Russia, Turkey and the United States, describing her detention as a “campaign by the Moldovan government to destroy Gagauzian autonomy”.
Vasile Bolea, a Moldovan parliament member, stated, “The situation around the Gagauzian leader has gone beyond the political struggle and is transforming into repression against those with different views.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s press secretary, Maria Sacharova, expressed hope that the trial would adhere to the principles of the rule of law and democracy. She also noted that the opposition in Moldova is facing an increasingly strong persecution and that the country is de facto transforming into a police state ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Gagauzia is an autonomous region in Moldova, with a population of over 155,000 people, mostly of Turkish origin and Orthodox Christian faith. While the current Moldovan government, led by President Maia Sandu, is pursuing a pro-EU and NATO course, the majority of Gagauzians reject European integration.