Moldova: Gagauzia teachers breached ethics over sanctioned Russian group links
Education officials in Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia are facing sanctions after an investigation revealed they hold cards with the sanctioned Russian bank Promsviazbank and attended events organised by a group linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.
The investigation has raised concerns about Moscow's interference in the education system of the pro-Western country.
Three school headteachers in the Gagauz autonomous region and the head of the Comrat Education Directorate hold cards with the Russian bank Promsviazbank, and have attended educational events organised in St. Petersburg by the "Evrazia" Association. This structure was co-founded by Ilan Shor. The revelations were published in an investigation conducted by the Independent Press Association (API) and the MoldovaCurata.md portal.
Evrazia events linked to Ilan Shor
The investigation reveals that in March 2025, four representatives of the Gagauz education system attended the International Pedagogical Forum in St. Petersburg. The event was organised by the "Evrazia" Association, a group founded in 2023 with the involvement of Mr Shor and Russian MP Aliona Arshinova, who is from the breakaway Transnistria region.
While the event was presented as purely educational, the direct link to internationally sanctioned individuals and entities is cause for concern. The European Union and the United Kingdom placed "Evrazia" on their sanctions lists in 2024 and 2025, alongside its founders and administrators.
The participation of the Gagauz teachers in such events has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Education's Ethics Council. In a May 2025 ruling, the council determined the staff had breached the Education Code and the Code of Ethics for Teaching Staff. "The participation of teaching staff in activities organised by entities that support, promote, or encourage military aggression (...) is prohibited," the document stated.
Teachers deny political ties
Some of the teachers concerned have denied any political nature to their trips. Ms Tatiana Cîvîrjic, headteacher of the "Valentina Moșcov" High School, claimed she attended a strictly educational forum.
"I learned a lot about working with children and staff. We were very satisfied. We even met the Russian Education Minister," Ms Cîvîrjic stated.
Mr Dmitri Guci, deputy headteacher of "Dmitrie Mavrodi" High School, said he went to the forum before "Evrazia" was placed on the sanctions list. "I attended strictly pedagogical activities. But I do not participate in political activities organised by Evrazia."
Sanctioned bank and undeclared income
Another finding relates to the Promsviazbank cards; the Russian bank has been used in recent years to fund political interference schemes in Moldova. All four identified teachers hold cards with this bank.
In the case of Ms Natalia Cristeva, the head of the Comrat Education Directorate, transfers originating from the Russian Federation were discovered. Furthermore, tax authority data shows tens of thousands of lei in bank interest income that she allegedly failed to declare to the National Integrity Authority (ANI).
The Ministry of Education has warned the targeted teachers that they face disciplinary sanctions, including the loss of their teaching and managerial degrees, should they participate in any further events organised by Kremlin-affiliated entities.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
