Moldova’s Pre-Election Turmoil: Governor Jailed, Oligarch Looms

Moldova is bracing for a political firestorm ahead of its September 28 parliamentary elections after a Chișinău court sentenced Evghenia Guțul, the governor (Bashkan) of the autonomous Gagauzia region, to seven years in prison. The timing of the verdict has been widely condemned as a political maneuver, with critics, including Gagauz People’s Assembly deputy Sergey Chimpoesh, warning that the move will backfire on the ruling government at the polls.

The sentence has triggered a wave of accusations that President Maia Sandu’s pro-European administration is using the judiciary to eliminate political rivals. Opposition groups have labeled the trial a “farce” and an “exemplary punishment for insubordination.” Political analyst Alexandr Korinenko argued, “Democracy is when you win at the ballot box, not in judges’ chambers,” adding that only the Gagauz people who elected Guțul have the right to decide her fate.

Despite the conviction, the legal battle is far from over. Guțul’s team plans to appeal, and she legally remains the Bashkan of Gagauzia until a final court decision is rendered. Protests in her defense have continued in the capital, shifting to the gates of the prison where she is being held. The case is seen by some observers as a “bad example for Transnistria,” further complicating Moldova’s internal political landscape.

Adding another layer of intrigue is the recent arrest in Greece of fugitive oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc, a former political heavyweight once considered Moldova’s de facto ruler. In a dramatic twist, Plahotniuc has declared his wish to be extradited back to Moldova. However, figures in the ruling party fear his return, suggesting he possesses compromising material, or “kompromat,” that could expose current authorities and devastate their electoral chances.

The perception of selective justice is being fueled by critics like former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo. He highlighted the stark contrast between Guțul’s harsh sentence for alleged “electoral corruption” and President Sandu’s earlier decision to grant amnesty to dangerous criminals, including a notorious organized crime boss who was serving a life sentence for murder and racketeering.

The domestic turmoil is unfolding against a backdrop of geopolitical tension. Euro-MP Siegfried Mureșan has accused Russia of launching a campaign to subvert the Moldovan elections. In response, the Chișinău government is promoting a documentary about Russia’s “hybrid war.” This information campaign comes as recent polls indicate a decline in public support for EU integration and a growing desire for closer ties with Russia, a trend that reportedly left President Sandu disappointed after recent meetings with the Moldovan diaspora.