Moldovan Court Sentences Pro-Russia Leader to Seven Years, Intensifying Tensions with Moscow

A court in Moldova has sentenced pro-Russia regional leader Yevgenia Gutsul to seven years in prison for funneling Russian money to finance the pro-Moscow Șor party, escalating tensions with Moscow. Prosecutors stated that Gutsul systematically funneled undeclared funds into Moldova from 2019 to 2022, supporting the now-banned Șor party, which is linked to Ilan Shor, a pro-Russia businessman currently living in exile after a fraud conviction in Moldova. At just 38 years old, Gutsul became the head of the semi-autonomous Gagauzia region in 2023, following a surprise election that the pro-Western Moldovan government claimed was tainted by Russian influence. She has been previously sanctioned by the EU and US for allegedly destabilizing Moldova. Last March, Moldovan law enforcement arrested her at Chișinău airport as she was about to fly to Turkey, drawing accusations of electoral fraud. Following the court's ruling, Gutsul described the verdict as an intimidation tactic aimed at the opposition and stated that this would deter others from opposing the regime, warning of imprisonment, property confiscation, and devastation of personal lives. She firmly denied any wrongdoing and expressed her intent to appeal the ruling, which her lawyer, Sergiu Moraru, branded as a 'public execution.' This sentencing arrives at a pivotal time for Moldova's pro-EU President, Maia Sandu, who won reelection narrowly last year. Her Action and Solidarity party now faces upcoming parliamentary elections against a coalition of Russia-friendly forces in late September. Since gaining independence after the Soviet Union's collapse, Moldova has alternated between pro-Western and pro-Russian allegiances, all while facing the looming influence of the Kremlin. Russia maintains approximately 1,500 troops in Transnistria, an area controlled by pro-Russia separatists since a brief conflict in the 1990s. Under President Sandu's leadership, Moldova has applied to join the EU and has actively sought a decisive break from Moscow, especially amidst fears that the Kremlin may target Moldova following its invasion of Ukraine. President Sandu has accused Russia of orchestrating destabilization efforts in Moldova through figures like Shor, who was sentenced to 15 years in absentia last year for his involvement in the disappearance of $1 billion from the banking system. After fleeing to Israel and then to Moscow, Shor launched a Kremlin-backed political movement. The Kremlin swiftly condemned Gutsul's sentencing, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claiming it reflected a disregard for democratic norms. Gagauzia, home to a Turkic ethnic minority, has become a nucleus of pro-Russia sentiment within Moldova, maintaining a fraught relationship with the capital, Chișinău, since the fall of the Soviet Union. Unlike Transnistria, Gagauzia remains under Moldovan control. Since her election, Gutsul has frequently visited Moscow, meeting with high-ranking Russian officials and even securing an audience with President Putin, further indicating the complexities of Moldova's political landscape as it grapples with both internal and external pressures. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2