Gagauz deputy head of Gagauzia calls searches in his house political pressure by Moldovan authorities

Ilya Uzun, the first deputy head of Gagauzia Eugenia Gutsul, said on Friday, November 22, that the searches in his house were political pressure from the Moldovan authorities.

He said that he was at work when law enforcement agencies "broke into" his home.

"They burst into the house in masks, with machine guns, scared my wife. They did not want to wait, as they should, for a lawyer and I was not allowed into my house," Moldova's Canal 5 in Telegram quoted Uzun as saying.

According to the Gagauz deputy mayor, investigators took away computers, phones and a small amount of cash, which his wife planned to deposit in a bank account.

Moldovan law enforcers started searching the house of the deputy head of Gagauzia the day before, on November 21. The press was not allowed into the courtyard, and several police crews were on duty outside.

Earlier, on November 11, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon said that Chisinau would increase pressure on the opposition in his country after Maia Sandu's re-election for a second term. Dodon said that about 20 hearings have been scheduled in the 13 cases brought against him by the end of the year. The former Moldovan president added that the legitimacy of Sandu's government is under great question.

The ruling party of Moldova actively persecutes opposition politicians. Thus, back in April this year, the country's prosecutor's office referred to court a criminal case on the alleged involvement of the head of the Moldovan autonomy of Gagauzia, Eugenia Gutsul, in irregularities in the financing of the party "Shor". Gutsul repeatedly pointed out that the case was fabricated. Also, as the elections approached, police conducted a number of searches of many local opposition representatives, which the Victory bloc called an attempt by Sandu to intimidate undesirable politicians.

Moldova's Central Election Commission reported on November 4 that Sandu won the country's presidential election with 55.33% of the vote. Voting was held in two rounds, as none of the 11 candidates passed the 50% threshold in the first round on October 20. During the second round on November 3 , 141 violations were recorded.