Moldovan Court Jails Gagauzia Governor for Illegal Party Financing, Striking Blow to Kremlin Influence

A Moldovan court has sentenced Evghenia Guțul, governor of the country’s autonomous Gagauzia region, to seven years in prison for illegal party financing, in a case widely seen as a test of Moldova’s resilience against Russian influence.

Guțul, a staunchly pro-Russian politician, was convicted of channeling more than $2.4 million in undeclared Russian funds into the activities of the now-banned Shor Party between 2019 and 2022. The party, led by exiled oligarch Ilan Shor, had been outlawed for its attempts to destabilize Moldova’s pro-European government, including organizing anti-government protests across the capital.

A High-Profile Conviction

The court found that Guțul, who served as the party’s secretary, played a central role in coordinating the illicit financial flows. Prosecutors said the money — primarily routed from Moscow — funded protests, salaries for demonstrators, and broader destabilization efforts.

The ruling also highlighted her alleged involvement with an “organized criminal group” aimed at undermining Moldova’s political stability. Shor, currently residing in Russia after a fraud conviction, was described as a key figure orchestrating the operations.

Government Response: A Message of Accountability

Moldovan officials hailed the verdict as part of a broader campaign to fight corruption and foreign interference.

“All those involved in corruption schemes must face justice,” Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu declared, calling the decision a step forward in defending the country’s sovereignty.

President Maia Sandu, whose administration has repeatedly accused Moscow of meddling ahead of September’s parliamentary elections, condemned Russia’s support for the Shor Party. She described its activities as “criminal operations” designed to subvert Moldova’s democracy.

The country’s foreign minister was even more direct: “The Kremlin regime, which persecutes the opposition and kills inconvenient politicians, is not in a position to offer lessons on democracy,” he said.

Guțul and Moscow Push Back

Guțul rejected the charges, denouncing the trial as a “political vendetta” intended to intimidate Gagauzia’s citizens. In a statement on Telegram, she vowed to appeal, insisting the ruling party was trying to silence dissenting voices.

Moscow echoed her claims. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Chișinău of applying “unlawful pressure on political opponents” and curbing Moldovans’ right to free choice ahead of the vote. The Kremlin’s response fits its broader strategy of portraying pro-European governments in former Soviet states as authoritarian while backing proxy parties and movements.

Rising Tensions in Gagauzia

The sentencing has sparked outrage in Gagauzia, where pro-Russian sentiment runs deep. The region’s People’s Assembly convened in emergency session, refusing to recognize the verdict and accusing the central government of sliding into dictatorship under Western influence.

Outside the courthouse, supporters staged demonstrations, chanting slogans against President Sandu and accusing her government of persecuting political opponents. Analysts warn such protests could inflame Moldova’s already fragile political climate ahead of the September 28 elections.

Strategic Stakes: A Battle Between East and West

Moldova remains a frontline state in the struggle between Moscow and Europe. Alongside Gagauzia, the breakaway region of Transnistria — controlled with Russian military backing since the early 1990s — provides Moscow with leverage to destabilize Chișinău. Financial pipelines, political proxies, and disinformation campaigns remain central to Russia’s influence strategy.

The conviction of Guțul is thus seen not only as a domestic anti-corruption measure but as a symbolic pushback against Russian interference. For Moldova’s government, it is both a warning to Moscow-backed politicians and a signal to Brussels that the country is committed to democratic accountability.

A Nation at a Crossroads

With parliamentary elections just weeks away, Moldova finds itself at a critical juncture. The ruling underscores the government’s resolve to defend democratic institutions, but it also risks deepening internal rifts between pro-European and pro-Russian camps.

For many observers, Guțul’s conviction embodies the country’s broader struggle: the pursuit of integration with the West while resisting the enduring pull of Moscow’s influence.