Russia asked the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to put pressure on Moldova and ensure the release of the head of the Gagauzia autonomous region Evgenia Gutsul.
This was stated by the Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich.
„We are sending official letters to the OSCE Secretary General F. Sinirlioglu and the heads of its executive structures, including the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions M. Telalyan and the High Commissioner on National Minorities K. Campa, with a request to put pressure on the Moldovan authorities and ensure the immediate release of E. Gutsul from detention, as well as to stop any actions that contradict Chisinau's obligations as a member state of the organization. We count on a prompt response from the leadership of the organization and its specialized structures to our appeal“, says the message published on the Telegram channel of the Russian Permanent Mission to the OSCE.
„The Russian Federation condemns the open pressure on the highest official of the Gagauz Autonomous Republic, who received a mandate from the residents of the Autonomous Republic of Gagauzia. We call on Chisinau to immediately release E. Gutsul and henceforth abandon repressive methods of political struggle. The authorities of the Republic of Moldova are obliged to create equal conditions for all political forces in the country in order to ensure their full functioning in accordance with the principles of democracy and political pluralism“, the diplomats noted.
On Tuesday, the head of Gagauzia was detained at the Chisinau airport. As Moldovan prosecutors explained, an old case related to the financing of her 2023 election campaign was reopened. Last year, prosecutors accused Hutsul of involvement in financial irregularities allegedly committed by the Shor party during the Gagauzia elections. The party was later banned by Moldovan authorities.
The trial in this case is not over. Hutsul, who is also the executive secretary of the opposition bloc "Pobeda", has called the charges exaggerated, saying that the president of the republic, Maia Sandu, is behind them.
All opposition parties in the Moldovan parliament have come out in defense of the Hutsuls, accusing the authorities of dictatorship.