Deputies of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia unanimously approved on Tuesday evening a statement by which they recognize Yevgenia Hutsul as the governor (baskan) of the region, although the judicial authorities have not yet confirmed the results of the elections for the position of baygan, the second round took place on Sunday.

Yevgenia Hutsul was a candidate from the pro-Russian SOR partyPhoto: Agerpres/EPA

Deputies of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia announced that they are going to an extraordinary meeting at the headquarters of the local legislative body to make “special decisions”. Between 200 and 250 people have already gathered on Tuesday evening in front of the headquarters of the People’s Assembly in Komrat, News.ro reports with reference to the news portal NewsMaker.md.

Deputies recognized the results of Sunday’s elections, after which the semi-autonomous region will be headed by the candidate from the pro-Russian SOR party Yevgenia Hutsul. The local elected officials motivated this by the fact that they do not trust either the Court of Appeals, which is the institution authorized to recognize the elections, or the central authorities of Chisinau, writes NewsMaker.md. They also stated that Yevgenia Hutsul won the election fairly and recognized her as a Basque.

Anti-corruption prosecutors in Chisinau are investigating election fraud

All these events took place after anti-corruption prosecutors from Chisinau raided the election commission in Comrat on Tuesday afternoon. They suspect falsification of the elections, in particular, the inclusion in the voter lists of people who have died or are outside the country.

The actions of the central authorities caused discontent among some local residents, who protested in front of the Komratsky court, chanting anti-government slogans. Evgenia Hutsul also appeared at the protest.

For her part, the Acting Governor of Gagauzia, Iryna Vlach, accused the ruling party of the Republic of Moldova PAS and President Maia Sanda of being behind the secession and of not complying with the law on the special legal status of Gagauzia. PAS rejected Iryna Vlah’s statements as “populist aberrations”.

Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) MP Dorian Istrati called for the law to be respected and stressed that elections must be free and fair. “You cannot call yourself a Basque, violating the laws of the Republic of Moldova. Enemies of this people, enemies of our country must know that we have a LAW and it must be respected and applied! Elections must be free and fair, only in accordance with current legislation, without vote buying, without dead voters on the lists, without citizens who were physically abroad but allegedly voted. The organized criminal group “Shor” found a weak point in the territorial administrative entity of Gagauzia,” said the PAS deputy.

As a general rule, Yevgenia Hutsul will assume the position of mayor of Baska on July 19, 2023, if the elections are recognized by the competent authorities. On the other hand, the SOR party, which supported her in the elections, risks being outlawed, such a decision is currently being considered by the Chisinau Constitutional Court.

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