The head of Gagauzia Evghenia Gutul was brought today to the Buiucani branch of the Chisinau Court, where anti-corruption prosecutors requested the application of pre-trial arrest. According to the prosecutors, this is a different criminal case than the one in which the head of Gagauzia was placed under arrest for 20 days, and the request comes to prevent a possible release, given that the arrest measure can be challenged. Supporters of Evghenia Gutul gathered in front of the court to demand her release, IPN reports.
As she was being escorted into the courtroom, the head of Gagauzia shouted "Gagauzia forward!" and "We cannot be destroyed!". The prosecutors' case was examined behind closed doors for almost two hours. On leaving, the head of Gagauzia, accompanied by several police officers, was unable to make a statement.
The prosecutor on the case, Ghennadi Epure, told the press that the law allows two or three arrest warrants to be executed consecutively, given that there are different cases, different charges and different risks. At the same time, Friday's warrant could be challenged and the decision of the appeal court is unknown. Thus, there are risks that the person could go free.
The prosecutor also mentioned that he had received a set of documents from the Intelligence and Security Service and others justifying the application for arrest. However, as the state authorities explain, it was an attempt by Evghenia Gutul to leave the Republic of Moldova and not to return. "We already have a criminal case with the status of defendant, which is at an advanced stage. And two - she has other criminal cases being examined by another prosecutor's office, where the risk of absconding was also established by a decision of the investigating judge on March 28," Ghennadi Epure explains.
According to the prosecutor, the information submitted shows that the head of Gagauzia was supposed to attend a conference in Istanbul, but according to the documents and documents, such an event was not to take place. As for the ticket purchased, the company in question also purchased tickets for other persons with the status of defendants. This organization allegedly included two citizens of the Russian Federation. The prosecutor also said that the ticket was procured shortly after the meeting at which the prosecutors finalized the presentation of evidence.
The head of Gagauzia’s lawyer, Sergiu Moraru, said he expected a less than legal decision. The decision on the arrest is to be handed down at 14:00 on Tuesday.
The court session was held in the case in which Gutul is accused of illegal financing of political parties or electoral campaigns, violation of the manner of managing the financial means of political parties or electoral funds. In the case in which she is accused of fraudulent management of electoral funds, illegal financing and false statements in the electoral campaign for the election of the head of Gagauzia, on Friday the Chisinau Court, Ciocana branch, issued a 20-day arrest. The measure was applied after Gutul was detained on the evening of March 25 at the Chisinau airport, from where he was planning to fly to Istanbul, Turkey. Law enforcement officials are also investigating whether the head of Gagauzia intended to leave the territory of the Republic of Moldova without returning. Evghenia Gutul pleads not guilty.
