Gagauzia declares Bashkan office vacant after Guțul conviction

The People's Assembly of Gagauzia has declared the office of the Bashkan (Governor) vacant following the imprisonment of Evghenia Guțul. Guțul was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Chișinău Court, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal.

During the assembly's deliberations, deputies debated whether to set a date for new elections. While some members proposed November 15, the assembly failed to reach the necessary number of votes to establish an election date. In the interim, Ilia Uzun will exercise the duties of the office.

Guțul's legal situation has drawn significant political attention. She was detained at Chișinău International Airport in March while attempting to travel to Istanbul. Following her arrest, she appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to pressure Moldova for her release and wrote to U.S. President Donald Trump requesting diplomatic protection for the Gagauz people. Some deputies within the assembly have characterized the legal actions against her as ‘political reprisals’.