---
title: "Moldova's pro-Kremlin regional leader jailed in election fraud case"
description: "A Moldovan court sentenced pro-Kremlin regional leader Evgenia Gutul on Tuesday to seven years in jail for channelling money from Russia to finance a political party."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-05-moldovas-pro-kremlin-regional-leader-jailed-in-election-fraud-case/"
published: "2025-08-05T13:38:34"
updated: "2025-08-05T13:38:35"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 163
---

# Moldova's pro-Kremlin regional leader jailed in election fraud case

> A Moldovan court sentenced pro-Kremlin regional leader Evgenia Gutul on Tuesday to seven years in jail for channelling money from Russia to finance a political party.

By Reuters · Published 5 August 2025, 15:38 SAST · Updated 5 August 2025, 15:38 SAST

## Key points
- Moldova's pro-Russian firebrand, Gutul, finds herself in hot water with the EU and U.S. for allegedly funneling cash to a banned party, while her supporters rally outside court, chanting "Shame!"—because nothing says democracy like a good old-fashioned political drama.
- Moldovan politician Gutul, under EU and U.S. sanctions, faces accusations of destabilising the country and financing the banned pro-Moscow "Shor" party.
- Prosecutors sought a nine-year prison sentence for Gutul, who denies any wrongdoing.
- The Kremlin condemned the ruling as a politically motivated attack on democracy in Moldova.
- Over 100 supporters rallied in Chisinau, demanding Gutul's freedom and chanting against the government.

## Content

Gutul, who has strongly criticised Moldova's current pro-European government and has occasionally visited Moscow to meet top officials, denied any wrongdoing. She has been placed on the EU and U.S. sanctions lists on suspicion of destabilising Moldova.

Prosecutors say Gutul systematically channelled undeclared funds into Moldova from 2019-2022 to finance the now-banned pro-Moscow "Shor" party set up by Ilan Shor, an exiled pro-Russian businessman who has been convicted of fraud in Moldova.

The prosecutors had been seeking a nine-year jail sentence for Gutul.

The Kremlin condemned the sentence as politically motivated and accused Moldova of trampling on democracy.

More than 100 people gathered in front of the court in the Moldovan capital Chisinau to support Gutul, the leader of Gagauzia, a small autonomous region whose 140,000 residents are mainly ethnic Turks.

The crowd demanded freedom for Gutul, chanting "Shame" and criticising the government.

The sentence can be appealed.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, writing by Yuliia Dysa; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Gareth Jones)