The European Union included five more people and one entity on its list of sanctions for attempts to destabilize the situation in Moldova. Gagauzia governor Yevgenia Gutsul is among them.
Europa Liberă reported that the governor has been sanctioned for her association with the fugitive politician Ilan Shor, and also for visiting Russia, without a constitutional mandate, where she met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked him to “protect” Gagauzia.
The list also includes Yuri Kuznetsov, deputy head of foreign relations of the Comrat executive, who was sanctioned for his association with Gutsul. Another person is Nelli Parutenco, founder and director of the Evrazia organization. The former cashier of Ilan Shor’s party is sanctioned because she heads an organization that pushes Russian propaganda, including among minors.
Ilia Uzun, vice president of the Executive Committee of Gagauzia and also member of the People’s Assembly, is sanctioned because he met with Shor in Israel to discuss the election of Gutsul as governor, but also because he planned and took part in demonstrations against the Moldovan authorities. Mihail Vlah, deputy governor, is accused of the same things as Uzun, plus participation in a violent demonstration.
Europa Liberă also reported that Evrazia, an autonomous non-commercial organization for the promotion of international cooperation, is on the EU sanctions list for its propaganda activity, but also for the role it played in the channeling from Shor and a Russian bank of money intended for people in the Gagauz autonomy.