Kremlin Decries Political Repression After Pro-Russian Leaders Prison Sentence in Moldova

The Kremlin has accused the Moldovan government of engaging in political repression after a court handed down a prison sentence to the pro-Russian governor of Gagauzia, an autonomous region in the country, for allegedly transferring Russian funds to a political party that has been banned.

On Tuesday, a court in Chisinau sentenced Evghenia Gutul, the leader of Gagauzia, to seven years in prison for allegedly directing undeclared Russian financial resources to the now-disbanded Shor Party from 2019 to 2022. Gutul has rejected these accusations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized the ruling as «clearly a politically motivated decision» during a press briefing following the announcement. He condemned the verdict as “blatantly unlawful pressure on political adversaries” in the lead-up to Moldova’s parliamentary elections scheduled for September.

Peskov remarked, “We are observing a systematic crackdown on the opposition in Moldova, which effectively strips citizens of the opportunity to support their preferred candidates. It is apparent that the country is consistently infringing upon democratic norms and principles.”

Following the sentencing of Gutul and her former Shor Party associate Svetlana Popan, supporters held protests outside the courthouse.

The court’s decision follows Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s recent accusations against Russia, alleging a plan for «unprecedented» interference in the country’s upcoming elections. Sandu highlighted exiled Shor Party leader Ilan Shor, who is currently in Russia, as the one coordinating a «criminal organization» involved in vote-buying and creating political turmoil.

Gutul, who was elected with the backing of the Shor Party, has made public appeals to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, urging them to intervene on her behalf. Prior to her arrest in March 2025, she visited Moscow seeking support from the Kremlin.

Gagauzia, a region in southern Moldova with a predominantly Russian-speaking and ethnic Turkic population of around 140,000, experienced extensive Russification after being incorporated into the Moldavian SSR, which reinforced its cultural and linguistic connections to Russia.

Upon Moldova’s independence in 1991, Gagauzia sought and was granted autonomy in 1994. Since then, the local leadership has frequently clashed with the central government over issues related to cultural policies, economic development, and foreign relations.