---
title: "ANI seeks to confiscate over 1.2 million lei from Guțul’s assets: Diamond necklace declared at just one leu"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/89548/ani-seeks-to-confiscate-over-1-2-million-lei-from-gutul-s-assets-diamond-necklace-declared-at-just-one-leu
published: 2026-11-06T07:56:00Z
language: en
author: "Redacția  TRM"
section: "Justice"
source: moldova1.md
---

# ANI seeks to confiscate over 1.2 million lei from Guțul’s assets: Diamond necklace declared at just one leu

> The National Integrity Authority (ANI) is seeking to confiscate nearly 1.25 million lei in assets belonging to former Gagauzia Governor (Bashkan) Evghenia Guțul. On November 4, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) ruled that ANI’s request should be examined by the Chișinău District Court.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/feef6b9a-35d0-486f-a15b-a919654075da.jpg)

The National Integrity Authority (ANI) is seeking to confiscate nearly 1.25 million lei in assets belonging to former Gagauzia Governor (Bashkan) Evghenia Guțul. On November 4, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) ruled that ANI’s request should be examined by the Chișinău District Court.

According to integrity inspectors, this sum represents the unjustified difference between acquired assets, income earned, and family expenditures during the 2024–2025 period.

According to the findings report issued by the National Integrity Authority (ANI) on November 5, 2025, inspectors identified unjustified assets totaling 1,249,679 lei. Of this amount, 820,259 lei represents the discrepancy identified for the year 2024, while another 429,420 lei was identified following checks covering the period from January to April 2025.
The asset review was initiated in March 2025, following an *ex officio* notification—a procedure launched by the authority itself—which also examined income declared by Evghenia Guțul as donations and gifts received during family events.

In their expenditure calculations, ANI inspectors included 205,500 lei for a diamond necklace, which Evghenia Guțul declared as having a value of one leu. This figure was determined based on the threshold established by law for the declaration of valuable items, given the absence of documentation regarding the jewelry's actual price.

Evghenia Guțul has contested ANI’s findings, saying some of the funds came from electoral donations, personal savings, family gifts, and contributions from relatives. While the institution accepted the explanations and documentation provided for donations from the 2023 election campaign, it deemed the justifications for other declared sums insufficient. According to the inspectors, no conclusive information was provided regarding the identities of certain donors, the origin of the funds, or the donors' financial capacity to make such contributions.

On December 2, 2025, the former Governor (Bashkan) challenged the findings report in court and sought its annulment. Subsequently, on December 23, the National Integrity Authority (ANI) filed a request seeking the confiscation—for the benefit of the state—of the equivalent value of the assets deemed unjustified.

The case reached the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) following a jurisdictional dispute between the Centru Court of Appeal and the Chișinău District Court. In a ruling dated November 4, 2026, the SCJ determined that the Chișinău District Court (Centru seat) must examine the ANI's request. This decision regarding the court's jurisdiction is final.

However, the Supreme Court’s decision does not automatically result in the confiscation of the funds. The court has merely established which judicial body has the authority to hear the case; it will now be up to the judges to rule on the merits of the ANI’s request. Should the institution’s findings become final, Evghenia Guțul also faces a three-year ban on holding certain public offices.

On August 5, 2025, Evghenia Guțul was sentenced to seven years in prison in connection with the illegal financing of the former "Șor" Party, which was declared unconstitutional in 2023. The Centru Court of Appeal upheld the sentence on May 28, 2026.

The defense has announced that it will challenge the decision before the Supreme Court of Justice. This criminal case is separate from the proceedings regarding the confiscation of unjustified wealth, initiated by the ANI.