ISTANBUL
The governor of Moldova’s autonomous region of Gagauzia on Thursday accused Chisinau of seeking to “destroy” their autonomy amid her detention by Moldovan authorities earlier this week.
On Wednesday, Moldova’s National Anticorruption Center announced that Evghenia Gutul was detained Tuesday at Chisinau International Airport in a criminal case “based on the violation of the management of financial means from electoral funds, illegal financing of electoral competitors, forgery of documents and forgery of declarations, related to the 2023 elections.”
It said Gutul’s detention, which would last for 72 hours, is also part of a criminal case launched Tuesday into the former treasurer appointed to the latest election campaign for the region’s leadership in 2023.
“This arrest is not just an attack on me personally, it is part of a large plan by Chisinau to destroy our autonomy,” Gutul said in a written address to the Gagauz people, which was shared on her Telegram account.
Gutul claimed that Moldovan security forces have been trying to put pressure on her for the past two years with “fake criminal cases, testimonies extracted under pressure from unfortunate witnesses, threats and blackmail.”
She further claimed that she has been offered to stop ongoing criminal investigations into her in exchange for renouncing her post and immediately leaving Gagauzia. Gutul did not provide further details.
“What PAS (Party of Action and Solidarity) and (Moldovan President Maia) Sandu are doing towards Gagauzia is an open insult and violation of our legal rights. … Their actions are a direct threat to the existence of Gagauz autonomy,” Gutul went on to say.
She additionally claimed that Moldova intends to introduce a state of emergency in the region and establish external control.
Separately, Gutul also sent a written address to Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling on Moscow to “use all possible diplomatic and political mechanisms to pressure Chisinau with the demand for my immediate release.”
She further asked Putin for Russia’s support for Gagauzia’s autonomous status, and to provide her people with “all possible support and protection.”
Moldovan authorities have not yet responded to Gutul’s claims.
