Yevgenia Gutsul has won the Bashkan runoff vote in Gagauzia. The preliminary data show the candidate supported by the Shor Party gained over 52% of the poll, while Grigorii Uzun, who ran as an independent, but was backed by the Party of Socialists, won over 47% of the ballot, IPN reports.

According to the preliminary data presented by the Central Election Commission in Comrat, 27,376 electors voted for Yevgenia Gutsul, while 24,913 voters picked Grigorii Uzun. The election outcome is to be validated by court.

One day before the May 14 runoff, police officers and prosecutors carried out searches over alleged acts of corruption committed by representatives of the Shor Party to persuade people to vote for Yevgenia Gutsul. It was determined that each activist was paid by 15,000 lei for influencing 30 electors to vote for this candidate.

In reaction, the Shor Party said the searches show “the government’s fear of Yevgenia Gutsul’s victory”, noting the government does its best to hamper the proper conduct of the gubernatorial runoff vote in Gagauzia.