Moldovan regional leader in Moscow as president fears destabilisation

In Chisinau, the pro-Kremlin governor of Moldova’s Gagauzia region has reached out to Russia, seeking their support and emphasizing the importance of maintaining close ties. This comes after the pro-European Moldovan president accused Moscow of actively working to destabilize the country.

Eugenia Gutul, the governor of Gagauzia, held a meeting with the speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament in Moscow, where she criticized the central government in Chisinau for allegedly violating the rights of people in her region in southern Moldova.

In a video published by Russia’s RIA news agency, Gutul expressed the region’s desire to continue receiving support from Russia and requested the establishment of direct flights to Moscow.

Gutul was elected as head of Gagauzia last year, a region predominantly inhabited by ethnic Turks. However, the election process was marred by reported irregularities that are currently under investigation.

The Moldovan government has distanced itself from Gutul, who is known to be an ally of Ilan Shor, a pro-Russian businessman who has been convicted of fraud in Moldova. Shor founded a political party that has since been banned, and he is also sanctioned by the U.S. as a Russian agent.

Recently, officials from Transdniestria, a Russian-speaking region in eastern Moldova that broke away from Moldovan control after the Soviet era, also sought help from Moscow. They accused the Chisinau government of impeding their economic development.

Transdniestria, which hosts a Russian military garrison, has long been viewed as a potential source of tension with Russia.

President Maia Sandu, who holds pro-Western views, stated that Russia is leveraging the situation in Transdniestria to exert pressure on Moldova. The country, positioned between Ukraine and Romania, is striving to join the European Union and NATO.

Oazu Nantoi, a lawmaker from Sandu’s party, expressed concerns about Gagauzia and Transdniestria’s intentions to further destabilize Moldova. He questioned why Russia’s Federation Council is focusing on small villages in Gagauzia when there are larger issues to address in the country.

It appears that tensions between various regions within Moldova, as well as their relationships with Russia, continue to be complex and potentially volatile. The political landscape in the country remains precarious, with differing perspectives on the influence of external actors like Russia.

This ongoing situation underscores the challenges faced by Moldova as it navigates its political and economic development while balancing the interests of various internal and external stakeholders.