The Bashkan of Gagauzia Evgenia Guțul was placed in pre-trial detention for 20 days. The decision was taken on Friday by the Ciocana Court of Chisinau City, IPN reports.

Guțul did not make statements for the press either before or after the hearing.

In a message published on the eve on social media, the Bashkan pleads not guilty and says that the arrest at the airport was illegal and the new case against her was fabricated.

The prosecutor in charge of the case told the press that the arrest was requested because there are risks that she will evade the criminal investigation body, but also risks of influencing the course of the criminal investigation and the administration of evidence.

The Bashkan's lawyer Sergiu Moraru said that Evgenia Guțul did not commit any violation. "Any person who participated in an election campaign does not know whether or not someone made a donation because he/she is not responsible for the accumulation of these donations, for reporting them to the CEC," said the lawyer. In his opinion, the arguments of the accusation are political in character.

During the court hearing, a number of people, supporters of the Bashkan, staged a demonstration in front of the Ciocana Court.



On Tuesday evening, the Bashkan of Gagauzia was arrested at the Chisinau International Airport on suspicion of fraudulent management of electoral funds, illegal financing and false statements. In the other case, Evgenia Guțul and the secretary of the Central Office of the former Shor party are accused of having been complicit in the illegal financing of the political party and an election contestant by an organized criminal group.