A Moldovan court has sentenced Yevgenia Gutsul, the pro-Russia leader of the semi-autonomous Gagauzia region, to seven years in prison for funnelling Russian money to finance a now-banned political party. The high-profile ruling, delivered on Tuesday, marks a turning point in Moldova’s effort to curtail Russian influence and will likely heighten already strained relations with the Kremlin.
Gutsul, 38, was convicted of systematically channelling undeclared funds into Moldova between 2019 and 2022 to support the pro-Moscow Șor (Shor) party, which was founded by Ilan Shor, a fugitive businessman currently living in exile in Moscow. Shor was sentenced in absentia last year to 15 years in prison for his role in the infamous disappearance of $1 billion from Moldova’s banking system.
Elected as bashkan (governor) of Gagauzia in 2023 in a surprise result, Gutsul’s victory was immediately contested by Moldova’s pro-European government, which alleged Russian interference in the vote. Authorities also placed her on EU and US sanctions lists for her alleged role in destabilising the country. She was arrested earlier this year at Chișinău airport, accused of electoral fraud while attempting to board a flight to Turkey.
In her response to the court’s decision, Gutsul denounced the sentence as politically motivated. “This is a warning to the entire opposition: go against the regime and you’ll end up in prison, have your property confiscated, and your life destroyed,” she said defiantly, insisting that she does not recognise the verdict and would appeal to clear her name.
Her lawyer, Sergiu Moraru, described the ruling as “a public execution” and vowed to challenge it through every available legal channel.
The sentencing comes at a crucial political juncture for President Maia Sandu, who won a narrow re-election last year on a pro-EU platform. Her Action and Solidarity party faces a challenging parliamentary election in September, amid growing pressure from a coalition of Russia-friendly parties.
Since gaining independence following the Soviet Union’s collapse, Moldova has oscillated between pro-Western and pro-Russian political paths. Under Sandu’s leadership, however, the country has moved decisively towards the West, applying for EU membership and distancing itself from Moscow, especially following Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
Sandu has repeatedly accused Russia of attempting to destabilise Moldova, pointing to Ilan Shor’s activities and Moscow’s support for political movements seeking to undermine her government. Shor, now operating from Russia, has continued to promote his Kremlin-backed political agenda despite his fugitive status.
The Kremlin reacted swiftly to the ruling against Gutsul. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Moldova of violating “the rules and norms of democracy”, calling the sentence a politically charged act of repression.
Since assuming office, Gutsul has frequently travelled to Moscow and met with senior Russian officials, even securing a rare audience with President Vladimir Putin.
The verdict against her is likely to deepen the country’s political divisions ahead of the autumn elections and fuel further tension in Moldova’s complex and often fragile east-west balancing act.
