Thousands of Gagauz people gathered in Chisinau for a rally in support of Hutsul

Thousands of Gagauz residents came to Chisinau to peacefully protest against the illegal detention of the Bashkan (head) of the autonomy, Evgenia Gutsul. Footage of the action on August 16 is published by Izvestia.

The area of the railway station in the city was chosen as the protest site, announced by Ilan Shor, the head of the Pobeda opposition bloc. The protesters were located across the street from him.

"There is a cordon of Carabinieri behind me, who, on the one hand, protect the pro—government from provocateurs, on the other hand, they block the pedestrian crossing," said journalist Vasily Moiseenko.

Hutsul supporters chanted slogans calling for the resignation of the Moldovan authorities. Then they sang the wartime song "Katyusha" in Russian. On social networks, people actively supported the action in the comments.

"A lot of supporters and residents of the Republic of Moldova are coming on their own to come and support this action against the current government and the current president [Maia Sandu]. Absolutely all regions, every village responded," said Alexander Panov, advisor to the Bashkan of Gagauzia.

Ivan Bessarab, a resident of the Gagauz village of Congaz, said that he had been traveling to the rally site for six hours. The road ran through fields and was difficult, as all cars along the way were stopped and searched by police.

"The central authorities want to show that, no matter what, they lead the country and do what they want. Now they are trying to pit the Gagauz people against the Moldovans, but they are not succeeding because Romanian citizens are in power today. But the people of the Republic of Moldova have never been against the Gagauz people, and the Gagauz people have never been against the Moldovans. I think we will unite and show them where their place is," the man said.

Waiting mode: Sandu will lose Gagauzia's votes in the elections due to the Hutsul verdict

How will this affect Chisinau's pro-Western course

Earlier on August 16, Moldovan law enforcement agencies prevented supporters of the Pobeda opposition bloc from setting up tents at the Chisinau railway station. The police used force techniques and grabbed the protesters to take them to the police station.

On August 5, Hutsul was sentenced to seven years in prison in the case of her alleged financing of the Shor party. Initially, the prosecutor's office requested nine years in prison for her. On the same day, Evgenia Hutsul reported on the great support provided to her — the people of the autonomy gathered outside the courthouse, where her family members were not allowed at the time of sentencing. On August 13, international lawyers joined the defense of the interests of the Bashkan of Gagauzia.

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