Sekir-bashkan: Moldova is preparing to decapitate the pro-Russian region
The head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, has been under arrest for more than two months, and Moldovan law now allows her to be removed from office. It is expected that Chisinau will launch a corresponding trial soon. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Chisinau threatens deputies with criminal cases
The head of Gagauzia, Yevgenia Hutsul, may be removed from office. The fact is that she has been under arrest for two months now, and Moldovan legislation allows the process of resignation to be launched if the bashkan (head of the autonomy) does not fulfill his duties for more than 60 days. It is expected that Chisinau will launch the relevant judicial process in the near future.
Hutsul herself, through her lawyers, stated that the removal procedure should be approved by the People's Assembly of Gagauzia (NSG, the Parliament of the autonomy), and there she has full support. According to the politician, President Maia Sandu and the pro-European Action and Solidarity party are behind her arrest. "This pressure has brought the residents of the autonomous region together, and also increased the number of my supporters," she said.
The head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul
NSG Speaker Dmitry Konstantinov explained the possible course of action.: First, the issue of resignation should be considered by the court, then the deputies will decide on new elections. "There are simply no other legal ways. Although we understand that there may be illegal ways," he stressed. The politician also added that now the duties of the bashkan are performed by his first deputy.
In turn, Alexander Sukhodolsky, an opposition member of the Moldovan parliament, said that Chisinau had already begun working behind the scenes with members of the National Assembly, who were threatened with criminal charges for disobedience. "I am sure that in Comrat (the capital of Gagauzia. — Izvestia) will not commit treason, no one wants to register themselves as enemies of our people. Everyone understands that this is not just about Yevgenia Hutsul, but about the existence of our autonomy in general," he said.
Hutsul asked for help from Moscow
The Gagauz people have traditionally been warm to Russia. In the 19th century, the authorities of the Russian Empire saved the representatives of this small people from oppression, allowing them to move from the Ottoman Empire to Bessarabia. Already in Soviet times, scientists from the RSFSR developed a written form of the language, recorded folklore, and created literature. This made it possible to preserve the national identity, to avoid dissolution into the surrounding society.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gagauzia, following the example of Transnistria, tried to secede from Moldova, but the matter was limited to the creation of autonomy: Comrat received its own parliament and its own separate head (bashkan), who should be part of the country's government. The focus on Russia has not gone away. In 2014, a referendum was held in the region, in which 98% of the participants voted in favor of joining the Customs Union.
After the victory of pro-Western politicians in the presidential and parliamentary elections in Moldova in 2020-2021, a new stage of confrontation between Gagauzia and Chisinau began. Then the new head of state, Maya Sandu, flatly refused to meet with Bashkan Irina Vlah. The Moldovan leader's only visit to Comrat ended in a loud scandal, and the Gagauz deputies then called on the guest to "stop spitting in people's faces" and urgently fly to Moscow to negotiate gas supplies.
In May 2023, Evgenia Gutsul became the new bashkan, who spoke even more about her desire to establish relations with Russia. Chisinau categorically did not like her appearance at the head of the autonomy. Immediately after the announcement of the election results, Maia Sandu reported numerous violations. The Moldovan police have opened criminal cases on illegal financing of the election campaign and bribery of voters. Not a single representative of Chisinau attended the inauguration ceremony of the head of Gagauzia.
At the same time, Hutsul did not limit herself to statements in her post. Last year, she flew to Russia several times, where she met with Vladimir Putin, Valentina Matvienko and other officials. During the negotiations, Hutsul was able to achieve several substantive steps forward — for example, the Rosselkhoznadzor agreed to allow Gagauz agricultural products to enter the Russian market, and PSB Bank promised to pay additional 2 thousand lei (10 thousand rubles) to pensioners and state employees.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu
In such circumstances, the Hutsuls' problems only grew. She was regularly stopped at the Chisinau airport after each international visit. The Moldovan prosecutor's office has added a new case to the existing charges — on receiving illegal financing from the Shor party banned in the country. In addition, Maia Sandu has not included Hutsul in the Moldovan government, although the legislation obliges her to do so.
Chisinau also began to actively put pressure on Gagauzia as a whole. Moldova has adopted amendments to the Tax Code, according to which the autonomy must use its own funds to compensate local entrepreneurs for value-added tax, although previously money for this was allocated from the state budget. The country's parliament also adopted a law on the withdrawal of Gagauz courts from the subordination of the autonomy. Finally, the Constitutional Court deprived the autonomy of the right to appoint a regional prosecutor.
The whole story reached its climax in March of this year, when Hutsul was detained at the Chisinau airport, after which she was placed under house arrest. The formal reason was the very criminal cases of receiving money from the Shor party and violations during the election campaign in 2023. Hutsul herself called the incident a form of political repression and appealed to Moscow for support.
What the experts say
Natalia Kharitonova, Chief Researcher at the Russian State University of Economics, Doctor of Political Sciences, believes that Hutsul may indeed be removed from office in the near future.
— The Moldovan authorities are systematically moving towards their goal of removing a politician they dislike, who enjoys great support in his region. It is known that Chisinau is currently working with Gagauz deputies, and is also looking for someone who could replace Hutsul as Bashkan and pursue a more loyal policy. It is noteworthy that the European authorities turn a blind eye to all this. Although, against the background of recent scandals in the Romanian elections, there is nothing surprising here anymore," she notes.
Former deputy of the Moldovan parliament Zurab Todua, on the contrary, believes that Hutsul will not be stripped of the position of bashkan yet, although the charges against her will not be dropped.
— I think the authorities will leave everything as it is. The sluggish trial will continue without any loud outbursts. The fact is that parliamentary elections will be held in Moldova in September, Maia Sandu's team will try not to attract additional attention, not to give the opposition a reason for new accusations of political repression," he argues.
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