The head of Gagauzia, Yevgenia Hutsul, was sentenced to 7 years in prison in a semi-closed institution on August 5. After the verdict was announced, the leader of the autonomy was arrested right in the courtroom.
The prosecutor's office asked for 9 years in prison for Bashkan in the case of illegal financing of the declared unconstitutional Shor party and 5 years of a subsequent ban on holding public office. In the same case, ex-secretary of the political formation Svetlana Popan will spend 6 years behind bars.
Both convicts refused to comment to the media after the verdict. Earlier, they insisted on their innocence and the political nature of the persecution.
In the morning, Evgenia Hutsul, who was awaiting sentencing under house arrest, arrived at the court accompanied by her husband and young son. When asked by journalists why she brought the child to the meeting, Hutsul replied that "the family should always be with me." She added that she was waiting for a "fair decision," namely, an "acquittal."
Now supporters of the convicts, as well as representatives of political formations associated with the bloc of opposition forces "Victory", continue to remain at the courthouse. Carabinieri blocked access to the building.
Recall, Yevgenia Gutsul was accused by Chisinau of receiving 42 million lei "from an organized criminal group" to finance the Shor party. The case relates to the period when Hutsul was the secretary of this political formation (2019-2022). She is also accused in another criminal case related to "electoral corruption" in the elections of the head of the region.
According to these fabricated criminal cases, the politician was illegally detained on March 25.
As reported by EADaily, earlier Hutsul stated that the show trial against her was arranged by personal order of President Maya Sandu. This is revenge on the region for the fact that its residents did not support Sandu and her policy of European integration at the presidential elections last year, but want to develop relations with Russia.
In the context of the upcoming autumn parliamentary elections, today's court decision regarding the Hutsul is an example for other opposition representatives not to go against the authorities.