Evghenia Guțul detained over fraudulent electoral funds
Governor of Gagauzia suspected of organizing electoral fund fraud and document falsification
Evghenia Guțul, the Governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit (UTA) Gagauzia, was detained by the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) as a suspect in a criminal case involving the fraudulent management of electoral funds, illegal financing of candidates, and falsification of documents concerning the 2023 elections.
According to the National Anticorruption Center (CNA) and the Prosecutor's Office of Chișinău, the Governor of UTA is suspected of instigating and organizing the falsification of several documents.
These documents allegedly contained falsified data about cash donations made by individuals to the electoral candidate, as well as misleading information regarding the origin of the funds presented to a financial institution and the Central Electoral Commission of Gagauzia. Investigators argue that, under these conditions, the electoral candidate’s bank account was supplied with 370,000 lei (~€19,000) from illegal sources. The money was later used to purchase goods and cover expenses related to the electoral campaign.
Evghenia Guțul's detention is part of the same case in which the person responsible for the electoral candidate's financial activities is also under investigation, following CNA raids conducted in Orhei on March 25. Guțul was detained for 72 hours and is currently in the custody of the CNA. Prosecutors are expected to file charges and request preventive detention from the court in the coming hours.
New details of Gagauzia's Bashchana Gagauzia's detention: Evghenia Guțul was listed as a "conscript" in information systems
Evghenia Guțul's detention is part of the same case in which the person responsible for the electoral candidate's financial activities is also under investigation, following CNA raids conducted in Orhei on March 25. Guțul was detained for 72 hours and is currently in the custody of the CNA. Prosecutors are expected to file charges and request preventive detention from the court in the coming hours.
New details have emerged regarding her detention: while attempting to leave the country via Chișinău International Airport, Guțul was flagged in the information systems. The detention took place on the evening of March 25 and was confirmed for Teleradio-Moldova by Angela Starinschi, the spokesperson of the National Anticorruption Center.
According to the CNA, following routine border control checks, the authorities were alerted, and Guțul was detained under the coordination of the Prosecutor’s Office of Chișinău. The case is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.
In the wake of these developments, the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia is scheduled to convene in an extraordinary session on Wednesday, as announced by the Assembly’s President, Dimitri Konstantinov. This situation comes on the same day that prosecutors and CNA officials conducted searches in Orhei as part of an investigation into the 2023 gubernatorial election. Among the actions being investigated are illegal financing of electoral candidates, falsification of documents, and statements. The Deputy Mayor of Orhei is one of the individuals under investigation, according to authorities.
Also on Tuesday, the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had concluded the presentation of evidence in the case concerning the illegal financing of the former "Șor" Party, which was declared unconstitutional. If found guilty, Evghenia Guțul could face up to seven years in prison.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
