A court in Moldova has sentenced Evghenia Gutul, a regional leader known for her pro-Russian stance, to seven years in prison for illegally financing a political party accused of acting as a front for Russian election interference.
Gutul, who governs the autonomous region of Gagauzia, was found guilty of using illicit funds to support the “Shor” party.
The party is linked to Ilan Shor, a pro-Moscow businessman currently in exile and previously convicted of fraud in Moldova.
The court ruling arrives just weeks ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 28.
Authorities say the Shor party was used to spread Russian influence and destabilize Moldova’s democratic process.
The Kremlin reacted strongly to the decision, calling it politically driven and claiming that Moldova’s pro-European government is trying to silence opposition voices that support closer ties with Russia.
Gutul, who has visited Russian President Vladimir Putin multiple times, most recently in 2024, rejected the verdict.
In a statement, she described the case as an act of political revenge and accused the government of trying to silence Gagauzia’s pro-Russian population.
Her arrest has sparked public outcry among her supporters, some of whom gathered during her detention and chanted slogans criticizing Moldova’s President Maia Sandu.
Moldova has long been split between Western integration and closer relations with Russia.
The current government supports stronger ties with the European Union, while critics like Gutul push for cooperation with Moscow.
Authorities in Moldova have repeatedly accused Russia of trying to interfere in internal politics, especially through political funding and propaganda.
Gutul’s conviction adds to the growing tension between the government in Chisinau and Moscow-backed figures.