STATEMENT | Now is the right time to free Gagauzia from the influence of Ilan Shor
The central authorities of the Republic of Moldova are currently in a favorable position to regain control over Gagauzia and reduce the political influence of the fugitive Ilan Shor in the region. This opinion is shared by the political commentator Andrei Andrievschi.
According to Andrievschi, the recent visit of the Director of the Intelligence and Security Service, Alexandru Musteața, to Gagauzia had a clear purpose: to convey the message that the period during which the autonomy was completely under Shor’s control is coming to an end.
The commentator states that Shor and his close associates have reduced their activity and, currently in Moscow, are trying to find explanations for the electoral failure and to “reorganize their political strategies”.
“Chisinau is taking advantage of this moment to wrest Gagauzia from Shor’s hands. The main role in this action belongs to Alexandru Musteața, who went to the autonomy to talk to local leaders, urging them to collaborate with the central authorities and distance themselves from Shor. He warned them that maintaining ties with him could bring them new criminal cases,” Andrievschi explained on the Scaner show on Moldova 1 TV.
The commentator noted that although most Gagauz leaders associated with Ilan Shor have been sanctioned, the president of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, Dmitri Constantinov, is an exception.
“He was probably sent a signal that things can change and that he must return to the constitutional field,” Andrievschi assumed.
The analyst believes that Dmitri Constantinov and his entourage are playing a “double game”, given that currently there are no other people in the region who have real influence.
“Those most loyal to Chisinau, such as Anastasov (Serghei Anastasov, the mayor of Comrat - editor's note) or other leaders in the South, do not have the same authority and capacity to influence the situation”, he explained.
Andrievschi also drew attention to the situation of the regional public radio and television station, GRT, which he claims has been “captured by Shor’s group”, which further complicates efforts to restore institutional control in the autonomy.
“And that’s where we need to intervene”, the commentator said.
In his opinion, Chisinau’s next logical step should be “continuing the pressure”.
"They are looking for a way to influence Constantinov. I don't think he is the right person for collaboration, but, under the current conditions, an attempt to return Gagauzia to a state of normality through him, and subsequently to change things through free and fair elections is the most realistic scenario", concluded Andrei Andrievschi, on Moldova 1 TV.
We specify that the mandate of the current composition of the People's Assembly in Comrat expires on November 16. Still, the elections cannot be organized because the region does not have a functional electoral entity, after the local deputies abolished, in 2023, the old electoral commission, and the activity of the new one was suspended by the court. Also, the Bashkan of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, was sentenced by the first instance to seven and a half years in prison in the case of illegal financing of the former "Sor" Party and is in Penitentiary no. 13.
