False choice: Moldovan authorities may appoint a new bashkan of Gagauzia
Moldovan authorities may extend the house arrest of Evgenia Gutsul in order to appoint a new head of Gagauzia, Bashkan's lawyer Sergei Moraru told Izvestia. According to the law, the head of the autonomy is changed if the current one does not fulfill his duties within 60 days. Hutsul was detained on March 25. The decision on the further measure of restraint for Bashkan must be made before May 14. If Hutsul's house arrest is extended, the National Assembly will decide whether to hold elections. Why the republic is interested in depriving Gagauzia of autonomy and how Chisinau will try to appoint its own person to a senior position — in the Izvestia article.
Chisinau may extend Hutsul's house arrest
The Chisinau court may leave Evgenia Gutsul under house arrest, lawyer Sergei Moraru told Izvestia.
— The Moldovan authorities may specifically extend the house arrest in order to appoint another Bashkan later. And then, using such an argument as 60 days without performing work duties, they will have the opportunity to contribute to the appointment of a new head in Gagauzia. There are no grounds for extending house arrest now, we have not had any deviations from appearing in court or at the prosecutor's office. If the house arrest is extended, then their goal is precisely to appoint a new head of the autonomy," Moraru said.
The decision on the extension of house arrest will be made in the near future: on May 8, 12 or 15, the lawyer specified.
The head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, before the court session in Chisinau, April 7, 2025
Since Hutsul was detained at the end of March, it is possible that she will be off duty for 60 days at the end of May. After the expiration of this period, the People's Assembly will meet in Gagauzia, where the question of when to hold elections and whether there is a need for them will be decided, Ivan Konstantinov, a public and political figure of the autonomy, tells Izvestia.
— The majority of deputies must vote in favor. We have only 35 people in the National Assembly, that is, 18 should vote in favor," he said.
According to him, Chisinau has been gradually "trying to bribe local deputies in Gagauzia for several years." As a result, there are politicians who play on two fronts, he added.
— Therefore, I think the decision on the date of the new elections will be delayed for several meetings. As long as the process drags on, it will only be to Chisinau's advantage for the Gagauz people to fight among themselves internally, so that a conflict can arise. This way Moldova will be able to gain time and win over more deputies," he said.
During the elections, it is possible that Chisinau will sponsor the victory of its own person, the public and political figure summed up.
Moreover, Moldova may even adopt a law according to which the Bashkan of Gagauzia will have to be approved by the authorities of the republic, despite the fact that this violates the constitution, the country's parliament told Izvestia earlier. Although the autonomy itself ruled out such a development. "This decision will be made by the National Assembly, not the state Chancellery. Although we understand that they may make illegal decisions," said Dmitry Konstantinov, Chairman of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia.
Hutsul was detained on March 25 at the Chisinau airport after returning from Istanbul. She was accused of forgery of documents, violation of the procedure for managing the financial resources of election funds and illegal financing of election competitors. Bashkan was placed under arrest for 20 days.
The Moldovan prosecutor's office simultaneously requested the arrest of Bashkan for 30 days in another case concerning the illegal financing of the Shor party (in June 2023, this political force was declared unconstitutional). But the Chisinau court rejected the prosecutors' petition. On April 9, Hutsul was placed under house arrest for 30 days. The decision on the measure of restraint for the head of Gagauzia must be made before May 14.
Alexey Lungu, head of the Chance Party
In Gagauzia, other representatives of the Pobeda bloc, which advocates normalization of relations with the Russian Federation, also came under attack. On March 26, at Chisinau airport, the head of the Chance party, Alexei Lungu, received a summons to the national anti-corruption center. A week later, Irina Lozovan, a deputy of the Moldovan parliament from the Victory bloc, was sentenced to six years in prison in Chisinau, and her husband to five.
The authorities detained journalists and opposition figures who did not support the pro-government course at the airport for additional screening. In particular, Moldovan blogger Gabriela Calina was detained after her return from Moscow.
How Chisinau deprives Gagauzia of autonomy
The population of Gagauzia is opposed to the current authorities in Chisinau. This is evidenced by the results of the last presidential election: less than 3% of the population voted for the president of the republic in the autonomous region. And 95% of Gagauz residents opposed Moldova's accession to the EU in a referendum. Obviously, such indicators undermine the rating of the current authorities.
Relations between Gagauzia and Chisinau significantly worsened when Hutsul won the autonomy elections in 2023. Maya Sandu refused to sign the decree approving Bashkan as a member of the government. Hutsul was not included in it, despite the fact that it is required by law. In addition, Gagauzia currently has no representatives in the Moldovan parliament.
After the Hutsul victory, for two years, Chisinau systematically restricts the rights of Gagauzia. For example, in 2024, the Moldovan parliament adopted a bill according to which a number of courts, including those in Gagauzia, will be administratively reassigned to nearby areas. Moldova also announced its intention to liquidate the Comrat Appeals Chamber.
In 2025, the Constitutional Court of Moldova deprived Gagauzia of the right to appoint an autonomous prosecutor. Previously, the chief prosecutor of the autonomy was appointed by the Prosecutor General of Moldova on the basis of a proposal from the People's Assembly of Gagauzia. The initiative to review the legislation was made by Moldovan Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu. Representatives of Gagauzia were not invited to the meeting, despite the fact that the authorities of the autonomy appealed to the court with a corresponding request.
Apart from the political aspects, Chisinau began to put pressure on the autonomy in economic terms. It receives funding in two tranches — mandatory and grant. The authorities have repeatedly threatened Gagauzia with the cancellation of the grant part.
Chisinau will continue to do its best to limit the powers of the autonomy, Ivan Konstantinov is sure.
— Some part of the VAT was taken away from us, the prosecutor's office was taken away, the courts were taken away. Chisinau is gradually taking away all rights," he said.
Earlier, Chisinau introduced an amendment to the Tax Code, which assumes that VAT refunds for entrepreneurs in Gagauzia will come from the budget of the autonomy, not the republic.
The situation may change for the better only after the elections in Moldova, which will be held this year. While Maia Sandu is in power, it is difficult to imagine a normal dialogue between Chisinau and Comrat, the expert concluded.
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