Autonomous leader of Gugauz region receives a prison sentence of 7 years
In a move that has stirred domestic and international reactions, Evghenia Guțul, Governor of Gagauzia and a prominent figure in the pro-Russian Șor Party, was sentenced to seven years in prison on August 5, 2025, for laundering money from Russia to support her party.
The court found Guțul guilty of accepting about $2.5 million from an organized criminal group to fund political activities between 2019 and 2022. The sentence also included the confiscation of over 40 million lei from her.
This verdict comes just weeks before Moldova’s September 2025 parliamentary elections, a critical contest between pro-European forces, led by President Maia Sandu, and pro-Russian influences. The Moldovan authorities framed Guțul’s sentencing as a success in combating Kremlin-backed oligarchic networks in the country.
However, the Kremlin condemned the ruling as politically motivated repression targeting the opposition. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Moldova of violating democratic norms and suppressing free voting rights. This aligns with broader tensions surrounding alleged Russian interference in Moldova’s elections, including illegal financing and organized protest efforts linked to the fugitive pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Șor.
The judge who sentenced Guțul, Ana Cucerescu, faced severe intimidation campaigns, including death threats, horrific images sent to her relatives, and false rumors of her death. The Moldovan Superior Council of Magistracy promised protection for judges under threat.
In response to the verdict, Guțul rejected the charges and announced plans to appeal. Meanwhile, a pro-Guțul rally attracted over 100 supporters in Chișinău, showing continued grassroots support.
This sentencing of Evghenia Guțul represents a politically significant event in Moldova’s fraught battle between European integration and Russian influence, eliciting sharp domestic and international reactions, threats to the judiciary, and protests.
[1] BBC News, "Moldovan governor jailed for money laundering," August 5, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58102427
[2] Reuters, "Moldova sentences Gagauzia leader Guțul to seven years in prison," August 5, 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moldova-sentences-gagauzia-leader-gutul-seven-years-prison-2025-08-05/
[3] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, "Moldovan Judge Who Sentenced Guțul Faces Intimidation Campaign," August 10, 2025, https://www.rferl.org/a/moldovan-judge-who-sentenced-gutul-faces-intimidation-campaign/31248962.html
[4] The Guardian, "Moldova's pro-Russian oligarch Șor accused of election interference," July 22, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/22/moldova-pro-russian-oligarch-ilan-sor-accused-of-election-interference
- The sentencing of Evghenia Guțul, a prominent figure in Moldova's pro-Russian Șor Party, has become a major point of discussion in the realm of general-news, as it coincides with the upcoming parliamentary elections and allegations of Kremlin interference.
- The trial and sentencing of Guțul, the Governor of Gagauzia, has sparked political debates both domestically and internationally, with the Kremlin calling it a politically motivated repression aimed at suppressing opposing views in the realm of politics.
