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2 Apr, 17:29

Imprisoned Gagauzia head Gutsul writes letter to UN chief Guterres from jail

"Your support will serve as an important signal to the world that the rights to self-governance and democratic principles are upheld and that the UN is ready to intervene wherever these fundamental values are under threat," she continued

CHISINAU, April 2. /TASS/. The head of Moldova’s autonomous region of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutsul, has called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres not to ignore what is going on in the Moldovan region.

"I address you as the foremost defender of human rights on the international stage, urging you to pay close attention to the situation in Gagauzia," Gutsul wrote in her appeal to Guterres. "I implore you not to remain indifferent to our plight, but to stand firmly with our people so that the truth is spoken and those courageous enough to oppose injustice come to the defense of Gagauzia."

"Your support will serve as an important signal to the world that the rights to self-governance and democratic principles are upheld and that the UN is ready to intervene wherever these fundamental values are under threat," she continued.

"I am writing now from Prison No. 13 in Chisinau, where I am being held on fabricated political charges," Gutsul noted. "The criminal case against me is not just an attack on an individual politician but a deliberate attempt to deprive Gagauzia of its democratically elected leadership."

"The Moldovan authorities act with impunity, confident that their actions will not encounter resistance on the international stage," she added.

Gutsul was detained on March 25 at Chisinau airport. She is facing two counts of illegal financing. In one, she was charged with irregularities related to the financing of the 2023 election campaign. In the other, she was indicted for irregularities in the financing of the opposition party Sor, which was declared illegal by Moldova’s authorities and subsequently dissolved.

After winning the election to lead the autonomy in 2023, the politician declared her intention to strengthen the region's friendly relations with Russia and criticized Chisinau's anti-Russia policies. The Moldovan government tried to void the election and sent prosecutors to investigate the region’s Central Election Commission.

However, the Gagauz parliament expressed solidarity with Gutsul, and several rallies were held in the region in support of the newly-elected leader. Moldovan President Maia Sandu refused to appoint Gutsul as a member of the Moldovan government, defying Moldovan law.