Dodоn Asks Sandu to Pardon Former Gagauz Governor Evghenia Guțul

The Socialist Party leader urged Moldova’s president to show compassion, humanity and Christian mercy, reminding her that Evghenia Guțul is the mother of two minor children who are waiting for her at home. “I have sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, asking her to pardon Evghenia Guțul, the elected Bashkan of Gagauzia, who was sentenced to seven years in prison.” With elections for the post of Bashkan scheduled for November 15, Dodon stressed that Guțul’s release would no longer have any impact on the political situation in Gagauzia. “At the same time, a pardon could serve as a gesture of political reconciliation between Chisinau and the Gagauz autonomy, between the central authorities and the Gagauz people,” Dodon wrote on social media. Evghenia Guțul was sentenced to seven years in prison for the illegal financing of the Șor Party and the systematic importation of undeclared funds from Russia between 2019 and 2022. The court also ordered her to repay 40 million lei to the state and barred her from holding certain public offices for five years.