Gutsul called her removal as head of Gagauzia a goal of Moldovan court

The head of the Gagauz autonomy, Eugenia Gutsul, on Friday, January 17, called her removal from office the goal of the protracted judicial proceedings against her in Moldova.

"The purpose of this protracted trial, which has been going on since April last year, is obvious: to remove the legally elected bashkan (head. - Ed.) and suppress the opposition," she wrote in her Telegram channel.

Gutsul noted that the court uses "unconstitutional and thuggish" methods. According to her, the case is built on false accusations by prosecutors.

She called the trial a question of the future of the whole republic, because, in her assessment, the opposition's right to participate in democratic processes, the principle of the rule of law, as well as the preservation of Gagauzia's autonomy are under threat in Moldova.

Gutsul emphasized that she will continue to fight "for justice, for the rights of citizens and for the future of the country."

Earlier, on January 15, Gutsul told reporters that the prosecutor and head of the anti-corruption prosecutor's office Veronica Dragalin offered her to drop the criminal case in exchange for her resignation. At the time, she noted, among other things, that the purpose of the case was to illegally change the leadership of Gagauzia.

The ruling party of Moldova actively persecutes 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 at the homes of many members of the local opposition, which the Victory bloc called an attempt by Moldovan President Maia Sandu to intimidate undesirable politicians.

The republic's Central Election Commission said last Nov. 4 that Sandu won the country's presidential election with 55.33 percent 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 irregularities were recorded.

Later, on November 11 of the same year, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon said that after Sandu's re-election for a second term, Chisinau would increase pressure on the opposition in his country. 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, 2024, representatives of Moldovan law enforcement agencies searched the house of Ilya Uzun, the first deputy of Gutsul, and Ruslan Unilovskyi, a deputy of the People's Assembly representing the Svetlii commune, which is part of Gagauzia.