The State Duma called the sentence of the head of Gagauzia Hutsul a political lawlessness.

The verdict handed down by the Moldovan court to the head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, is a political outrage. Alexey Chepa, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, told Izvestia on August 5.

"This is the suppression of all opposition, this is a dictatorship, the lack of freedom of speech in the country. Moldovan President Maia Sandu is losing power, she is not holding it, and she won the last election due to fraud in the West," the MP said.

In his opinion, the people of Moldova will not forgive the current government for the actions it has committed.

"Sandu's attempt to stay in power with the help of Western patrons, they still won't lead to the desired results," he concluded.

"Maya Sandu literally hates Evgenia Hutsul"

Marina Tauber, Vice-chairman of the Victory bloc, on the arrest of the head of Gagauzia, the reaction from the Russian Federation and increased pressure on the opposition in Moldova

Earlier that day, Hutsul was sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly financing the Shor party. A protest rally in support of the head of the autonomy took place in front of the courthouse. After the announcement, the Hutsul declared support from the people of the Gagauz Autonomy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the verdict of the head of Gagauzia is an example of illegal pressure on political opponents.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.