Central Electoral Commission to Announce Eight Offenses in Elections of Gagauz Bashkan

The Central Electoral Commission announced today, May 13, eight criminal cases on illegal financing of electoral competitors. According to a press release from the Central Electoral Commission, all eight candidates received private donations exceeding the legal maximum limit of 11,700 lei. The Central Electoral Commission informs that audit of the total financing of the election campaign in Gagauzia revealed the largest limit excess in the amount of more than 458,000 lei by the Sor Party candidate Evghenia Gutul. At the same time, the Central Electoral Commission notes that representatives of the Comrat Central Electoral Council did not set a maximum limit for financing candidates, although Moldovan legislation provides for this threshold. Representatives of the Electoral Council of Gagauzia were informed about the violations recorded by the Central Electoral Commission, but did not take any action to correct the situation, the Chisinau Central Electoral Commission notes. The Comrat Central Electoral Council has not yet commented on the accusations of the Central Electoral Commission. Evghenia Gutul, a candidate from the Sor Party, was declared the winner in the second round of elections on May 14.