A new protest was staged on Thursday in front of the Comrat mayor’s office, organized by Mihail Vlah, adviser to the governor of Gagauzia Evgenia Guțul. The participants signed a petition calling for the release of Evgenia Guțul and accused Moldova's ruling party of dictatorship, IPN's correspondent in the region reports.



The protesters, supporters of the outlawed Shor party, are faces that can be regularly observed at such demonstrations. They did not speak. They only listened to Mihail Vlah and Ivan Bessarab, the representative of protest activists from Congaz.

The main message conveyed at the rally was that the arrest of Evgenia Guțul represents revenge taken against the Gagauz people by order of President Maia Sandu.

In general, the detention of the governor is perceived as pressure exerted on the whole of Gagauzia.



Mihail Vlah urged the demonstrators to sign in favor of the release of Evgenia Guțul and the petition is to be sent to the authorities in Chisinau.

The organizers also asked mayor Sergei Anastasov to sign for the release of Evgenia Guțul. Representatives of the mayor’s office did not go out to talk to the protesters. Therefore, the petition was taken into the mayor’s office.

The protesters agreed to mount protests more often throughout Gagauzia and continue to collect signatures.



On Tuesday evening, the Bashkan of Gagauzia Evgenia Guțul was arrested at the Chisinau International Airport on suspicion of fraudulent management of electoral funds, illegal financing and false statements. Prosecutors ask for 30 days of pre-trial detention for her.