Gutsul reported on the prosecutor's offer to drop the case in exchange for resignation

The bashkan (head) of the Moldovan autonomy of Gagauzia, Eugenia Gutsul, told reporters on February 15 that a prosecutor offered her to drop the criminal case against her in exchange for her resignation.

"The prosecutor a year and a half ago, together with [head of the anti-corruption prosecutor's office Veronica] Dragalin, offered me a deal: I surrender the bashkan's mandate and the criminal case against me will be dropped," she said. A video of Gutsul's statement is published by Telegram channel Gagauzia24.

She emphasized that the purpose of the criminal case is to illegally change the leadership of the autonomy.

The ruling party of Moldova actively pursues opposition politicians. Thus, back in April 2024, the country's prosecutor's office referred to court a criminal case on Gutsul's alleged involvement in irregularities in the financing of the Shor party. It 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 Moldovan President Maia Sandu to intimidate politicians undesirable to her.

The republic's Central Election Commission reported on November 4 that Sandu won the 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.

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

On November 21, representatives of Moldovan law enforcement agencies searched the house of the first deputy head of Gagauzia, Eugenia Gutsul Ilya Uzun, as well as the house of Ruslan Unilovskyi, a member of the People's Assembly representing the Svetlii commune, which is part of Gagauzia.