Authorities in the Republic of Moldova detained on Monday a key figure in the long-running opposition protests demanding the resignation of the pro-European government as he tried to leave the country, anti-corruption prosecutors in Chisinau said, Reuters reported. .

Marina Tauber led street protests against the country’s president Maia Sandu, who supports the rapid integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European Union.

Tauber is a key member of the second opposition party in the Republic of Moldova, led by Ilan Shor, who lives in exile in Israel and was sentenced to 15 years in prison last month in connection with bank fraud.

President Maia Sandu and other officials of the Republic of Moldova say Tauber’s role in the protests is part of an attempt to disrupt public life and act in Russia’s interests.

“Any person is obliged to comply with the legal norms of the Republic of Moldova, and any action that violates these norms is subject to punishment… according to the law,” the spokeswoman of the President of the Republic of Moldova said in a press release. Moldova, Iryna Gotisan.

Tauber is accused of fraud related to party funding and was arrested while trying to travel to Israel in defiance of court orders. She remained in custody on Monday evening, the prosecutor’s office reported.

The authorities in Chisinau condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accused the Kremlin of trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova.

Tauber was expected to play a role in the election, which is being held in the autonomous region of Gagauzia, populated mainly by ethnic Turks who favor close ties with Russia. All eight candidates for the post of governor are Basques and are pro-Russian. Tauber would then campaign for candidate Shore in the runoff election. The candidate from the “Shor” party Yevgenia Hutsul and the candidate from the Socialist Party Hryhoriy Uzun won the first two places in the elections on April 30 and will meet in the second round, which will take place on May 14.