CHISINAU, April 23. /TASS/. Dmitry Konstantinov, chairman of the People’s Assembly (parliament) of Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia, believes that his ban on leaving the country and the criminal investigation launched into him are politically motivated.
"After a bashkan (the autonomy’s head - TASS) was elected and work began to approve the Executive Committee, officers from the Information and Security Service warned me that if we approved the Executive Committee’s members, a criminal investigation would be launched. This is what happened; the investigation has been going on for two years. A while ago, the Gagauzian prosecutor’s office handed me a decree banning me from leaving the country for two months," Konstantinov told reporters.
Evghenia Gutsul, member of the Shor party prohibited in Moldova, was elected Gagauzia’s head last year. She announced plans to strengthen the autonomous region’s friendly relations with Russia and slammed the pro-Western Moldovan government’s policy of confrontation against Moscow. Chisinau tried to declare the election illegal but Gagauzia’s parliament expressed solidarity with Gutsul. Several rallies in support of the new leader took place in the region. After that, Moldovan President Maia Sandu refused to sign a decree approving Gutsul as a member of the country’s government, even though it is required by the law.
The criminal investigation into Konstantinov concerns the operation of a distillery that he owns.