Pro-Russian leader of Moldovan ethnic minority detained

Eugenia Gutul, the leader, or bashkan, of Gagauzia, was being held for 72 hours in the capital, said Angela Starinschi, an official with
"The action is being taken within the context of a criminal case," Starinschi told reporters.
Gagauzia, a 140,000-strong region in the south of
Sandu denounces
Gutul, a fierce critic of the government, was elected bashkan in 2023 with backing from fugitive business magnate
Gutul, whose election as bashkan has never been recognised by Sandu, is due to be sentenced soon on charges of corruption and financing a political bloc led by Shor from exile in
Her detention follows the unexplained disappearance last week of pro-Russian parliamentarian Alexandr Nesterovschi on the day he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on similar corruption charges.
A second lawmaker, Irina Lozovan, awaiting a verdict on similar charges, has also disappeared.
Both were associates of Shor, who hopes to use his "Victory" bloc to win election of pro-Russian lawmakers in a parliamentary poll later this year.
Shor is accused by Moldovan authorities of funnelling large sums of money into the country to influence elections.
(Reporting by Alexander Tanas, writing by
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