Gutul Identified as a Person with a Travel Ban Status

The Border Police has provided details on the detention of Gagauzia’s Bashkan Evghenia Gutul. On the evening of 25 March, the Bashkan of Gagauzia tried to fly out of the country. As a result of routine checks carried out during border control at the Chisinau airport, it was found that she appeared in the information systems with the travel ban status, noi.md noted. In accordance with the procedures established by law, the competent authorities were immediately informed. Subsequently, Gutul was detained for 72 hours by the National Anticorruption Centre under the coordination of the Chisinau City Prosecutor’s Office. The case is currently under investigation by the competent authorities to clarify all the circumstances. The National Anticorruption Centre and prosecutors from the Chisinau Prosecutor’s Office report that the Bashkan of the Gagauz autonomy was detained on 25 March at the Chisinau International Airport in a criminal case on violation of the procedure for managing the financial means of electoral funds, illegal financing of electoral competitors, forgery of documents and falsification of declarations related to the 2023 elections. The detention of the autonomy’s Bashkan took place within the framework of the same case in which the person responsible for the financial activity of the 2023 election candidate, in respect of whom the NAC conducted searches in Orhei on 25 March 2025, is being investigated. According to the criminal investigation, the suspect instigated and organized, through the treasurer, the falsification of a number of documents, which included inaccurate data on money donations made by individuals in favor of an electoral candidate, documents confirming the source of funds in the country’s financial institution, as well as in the Central Electoral Commission of Gagauzia. Under such circumstances, the bank account of the electoral contestant received financial means from sources prohibited by law in the amount of 370,000 lei, which were subsequently used to purchase goods, as well as to pay taxes and services related to the electoral campaign. Clarify that any person is presumed innocent until final judgement of the court.