The criminal case against bashkan of Gagauzia Eugenia Gutsul was sent to the Court

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (AP) announces that it has completed the criminal prosecution and sent it to court for examination of the merits of the criminal case against Eugenia Gutsul and a secretary from the Central Office of the former political party “Shor,” charging them with two counts of knowingly accepting the financing of the electoral contestant and the political party from an organized criminal group, in prolonged form, as an accomplice.

This prosecution was initiated in January 2022 based on a referral from the National Investigation Inspectorate (INI) and the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).

“According to the evidence administered by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) jointly with the National Anti-Corruption Centre (NAC) and the Information and Security Service (SIS), it was established that Eugenia Gutsul, during the period 2019 – 2022, working as a secretary in the Monitoring, Planning, and Control Department of the former “Shor” Political Party (declared unconstitutional by Constitutional Court Decision no. 10 of 19.06.2023 and struck off the State Register of Legal Entities on 23.01.2024), was actively involved in the systematic introduction of unaccounted financial means into the Republic of Moldova, received from an organized criminal group, mainly from the Russian Federation, using air and land flights (round trip for 24 hours). Which they subsequently integrated into the party’s activity to support its activity in the political arena of the Republic of Moldova,” the statement issued by the AP reads. 

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At the same time, on another charge, Eugenia Gutsul, as an accomplice, during October 2022-November 2022, coordinated the activity of some Territorial Offices of the former Political Party “Shor” in the districts of the Republic of Moldova, being responsible for the verification, confirmation of lists and remuneration of participants in the protests organized by the Political Party “Shor” in front of public institutions in the municipality. Chisinau (Parliament, Government, Presidency, Prosecutor General’s Office, etc.), thus knowingly accepting the financing of the political party from an organized criminal group in the total amount of 42,498,532.40 lei.

“Similar criminal acts are also incriminated against the other accomplice, responsible for the Territorial Office of mun. Chisinau, during the period October 2022-November 2022, knowingly accepted the financing of the political party from the organized criminal group, in the total amount of 9 746 825 lei, financial means intended for the payment of protests organized by the political party, payment of unaccounted salaries (in envelopes) to members of territorial offices, etc. The defendants did not admit to the crimes committed. So, the 68-volume criminal case with the 329-file indictment was sent to the Buiucani court in Chisinau for examination on the merits,” the source added.

Thus, for the offense committed, the law provides for punishment in the form of a fine ranging from 57,500 to 92,500 lei or imprisonment from 2 to 7 years, in both cases with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or to exercise certain activities for a period of 2 to 5 years, and the legal entity is punished with a fine ranging from 250,000 to 450,000 lei with deprivation of the right to exercise a specific activity or liquidation of the legal entity.