CHISINAU, August 3. /TASS/. Thousands of people have gathered in the city of Comrat for a rally in support for Gagauz autonomy’s head Evghenia Gutsul, who was detained in Chisinau and placed under house arrest, Mikhail Vlah, adviser to the Gagauz head and one of the rally’s organizers, told TASS.

"Despite the obstacles placed by the police, around 5,000 people have gathered for a rally. We are here to say ‘no’ to the lawlessness and arbitrariness of the Chisinau authorities against Gagauzia," he said, adding that the police are trying not to let people from other cities come to Comrat.

Relations between Chisinau and Cpmrat became strained in 2023 after Evghenia Gutsul, an opposition politician, won elections in the autonomy and proclaimed a course toward closer relations with Russia, criticizing Chisinau’s policy of confrontation with Moscow. Moldovan authorities tried to recognized the election in Gagauzia invalid, but the Gagauz parliament sided with Gutsul. Apart from that, a series of grass-roots rallies were held in her support. However, Moldovan President Maia Sandu refused to sign a document approving Gutsul as a government member, which is required to be done under the country’s laws.

Gutsul was detained at Chisinau’s airport on March 25 and later was arrested as part of a criminal case related to the financing of her election campaign in 2023. Along with this, court hearings have been proceeding since 2024 on another case where Gutsul is charged with illegally financing an opposition party. However, she categorically rejects these charges, saying that the case is politically motivated.

A verdict to Gutsul will be pronounced on August 5. If she is sentenced to a prison term, Moldova’s authorities may initiate new election of Gagauzia’s head.