Hutsul called her arrest a blow to the whole of Gagauzia.

The head of the Gagauz Autonomy of Moldova, Evgenia Gutsul, who is under arrest, has published an appeal to citizens. The message appeared on her Telegram channel on March 29.

"The court decided to put me under arrest for 20 days on an absolutely fabricated, white-knotted criminal case. This is not just pressure on me personally, it is a blow to the whole of Gagauzia, to our traditions of self—government, to our rights and freedoms," the publication says.

The politician urged her supporters to "not give in to fear" and not give up. Hutsul called all the accusations against herself false. According to her, the fight is just beginning.

In the message, she thanked everyone who expressed their support for her in a difficult moment.

Increased pressure: what will happen to the detention of the head of Gagauzia

Repressions against the opposition have intensified in Moldova, as it advocates improving relations with Moscow.

On March 29, the Pobeda political bloc announced that the decision to extend the arrest of the head of the Gagauz Autonomy of Moldova, Evgenia Gutsul, for 20 days would be protested by the defense in the Chisinau Appeals Chamber. Ilan Shor, the leader of the opposition bloc, noted that the arrest of the head of Gagauzia would be a "nail in the coffin" of the Moldovan authorities.

Hutsul was detained at the Chisinau airport without explanation on March 25. It was reported that the head of Gagauzia was supposed to fly to Istanbul, where she was scheduled to meet. According to the Moldovan Prosecutor General's Office, the politician was detained after her name was found on the list of persons prohibited from leaving the country.