Seven-year sentence for conducting partridge-related work.
In a significant development in Moldovan politics, the head of the Gagauz Autonomous Region, Eugeniu Guțu, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by the Chisinau Regional Court. The sentence was given in a case of illegal financing of the "Shor" party.
The criminal cases against Guțu and another party member, Svetlana Popa, were transferred to the court in April 2021 by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Moldova. Both Guțu and Popa are accused of receiving monetary funds from an organized criminal group.
The funds received by Guțu were reportedly used to finance party activities and make unofficial payments to employees. Similarly, Popa is alleged to have used funds for party expenses, including organizing mass protest actions and making "envelope salaries" to members of territorial branches.
The verdict against Guțu has sparked protests in Chisinau, with his supporters expressing their disagreement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, State Duma Deputy Konstantin Zatulin, and Vice-Speaker of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, have all criticized the decision, calling it politically motivated and a reprisal against a political opponent.
Zatulin added that "much will be decided in the September elections" and that "much depends on the outcome of these elections." He, along with Kosachev, has expressed concern that the sentence is aimed at repressing Guțu and the political will of the Gagauz national minority.
Alevtina Parfenova, another individual with an opinion on the matter, has also expressed her views about the court's decision regarding Mrs. Guțul. No specific details about her views were available in the retrieved sources.
Svetlana Popa was sentenced to six years in prison on the same day as Guțu. Both Guțu and Popa have maintained that the verdict is politically motivated.
Despite the controversy surrounding the sentencing, no incidents were reported during the protests that followed the announcement of the verdict. The search results do not provide any information about the political background or details of Guțu's sentencing in Moldova. The retrieved documents mostly discuss unrelated topics such as Moldova-Romania unification, regional elections, and local Chișinău affairs.
For more detailed information, one may look to Moldovan news sources, official court documents, or legal analyses. It is important to note that this article is based on the facts available in the provided sources and does not contain opinions or unrelated information.
- The verdict against Guțu and Popa, sentenced for illegal financing of the "Shor" party, has sparked political controversy, with critics such as Dmitry Peskov, Konstantin Zatulin, and Konstantin Kosachev accusing it of being politically motivated.
- The sentencing of Guțu and Popa for their roles in party financing is a topic of interest in Moldova's policy-and-legislation, with the September elections being seen as significant in the context of this case.
