The Kremlin has formally acknowledged the appeal made by Yevgenia Gutsul, the detained governor of Moldova’s autonomous Gagauzia region, to Russian President Vladimir Putin, requesting assistance in securing her release. Gutsul, a vocal critic of Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s government, has alleged that her detention is part of a broader effort to suppress Gagauzia’s autonomy and eliminate opposition voices. The case has added another layer of complexity to Moldova’s geopolitical tensions, with Russia and Türkiye now being drawn into the dispute.

Gutsul was arrested on March 25 at Chisinau International Airport, with Moldovan authorities justifying the move by citing her presence on a wanted list. Reports from Moldovan media suggest that her detention is linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities during the 2023 gubernatorial election in Gagauzia, which she won. The government claims that her campaign was backed by illicit funding, potentially tied to Russian influence operations aimed at destabilizing Moldova’s bid to join the European Union.

Moldovan authorities have long suspected that Russia exerts undue influence over Gagauzia, an autonomous region inhabited by a Turkic-speaking, predominantly Orthodox Christian population. Moscow has historically maintained strong cultural and political ties with the region, making Gagauzia a focal point of tension between Moldova’s pro-Western government and pro-Russian factions.

Following her arrest, Gutsul issued statements through her legal representatives, accusing the Moldovan government of orchestrating a campaign to dismantle Gagauzia’s........

© Blitz