Evghenia Guțul placed in preventive arrest for 20 days
Evghenia Guțul, the governor of Gagauzia, was put under 20 days of preventive arrest. On Friday, March 28, the magistrates of the Ciocana-based Chișinău Court approved a decision to that effect.
She runs the risk of avoiding the criminal investigation team and showing up in court. Adrian Scutaru, the prosecutor, stated that she could therefore take any number of actions that would adversely affect the criminal investigation's progress and the way evidence is administered in a way that suits her.
The governor’s lawyer, Sergiu Moraru, told journalists that his client does not plead guilty and has not committed any violation.
Decision on the arrest of the Gagauzia Bashkan postponed until Monday
The court hearing scheduled to consider the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office's request to apply a 30-day preventive arrest to Bashkan Evghenia Guțul of Gagauzia has been postponed. The decision is to be ruled on Monday, March 31. Even so, in front of the Chisinau Court based in Buiucani, dozens of Bashkan's supporters gathered and demanded her release.
Bashkan Evghenia Guțul was brought before the magistrates
The Bashkan of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, was escorted to the Chișinău Court based in Ciocana, where magistrates are to examine the requests for preventive arrest for 30 days. Guțul did not make any statements to the media. Meanwhile, dozens of people gathered in front of the court and demanded the release of the Bashkan, chanting "Down with Maia Sandu!" and "We stand with Guțul!".
Two criminal cases against Evghenia Guțul: Court examines request for preventive arrest
Magistrates will examine today the requests submitted by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutors and the Chisinau Municipal Prosecutor's Office regarding the application of preventive arrest for 30 days in the case of the UTA Gagauzia Bashkan, Evghenia Guțul. She is targeted in two separate criminal cases.
According to prosecutors, in the first case, Guțul is accused of mismanagement of electoral funds, illegal financing and falsification of documents to support her electoral campaign. In the second case, the authorities accuse her of involvement in the illegal introduction of large sums of money from the Russian Federation, money that was allegedly used to support the activities of the former "Sor" Party and to finance the protests organized by it.
Evghenia Guțul rejects the charges and declares herself innocent.
Supporters of Evghenia Guțul gathered in front of the Chișinău Court based in Ciocana, where one of the hearings is to take place, demanding her release.
In the meantime, the Bashkan appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene for her release. Russia’s permanent representative to the OSCE, Aleksandr Lukashevich, said Moscow condemned Guțul’s detention, calling it a “politically motivated” action and an example of “open pressure” on an elected leader. Russia is calling on Chișinău to release her immediately and abandon “repressive methods of political struggle.” The issue was also raised within the OSCE, where Moscow has requested the organization’s intervention, sending official letters to the secretary general and other top representatives to put pressure on the Moldovan authorities to release her from detention soon.
She was detained on Tuesday, March 25, at Chișinău International Airport while trying to leave the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Prosecutors allege that, through his treasurer, Guțul organized the falsification of several documents, which allowed the illegal replenishment of the electoral competitor’s bank account with 370 thousand lei. The money was later used to purchase goods, pay taxes and services related to the electoral campaign.
The court's decision on the application of the preventive measure is to be announced later today.
