A local court confirmed that Evghenia Gutul, a pro-Russian candidate from a party headed by a fugitive oligarch, won the election to become the new governor of Moldova’s southern region of Gagauzia.
New governor Evghenia Gutul speaks to her supporters on Tuesday in Comrat, Gaugazia. Photo: Ilan Shor Party/Facebook.com
The new governor of the pro-Russian autonomous region of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul, publicly thanked her supporters on Tuesday after the Court of Appeal in the region’s main city Comrat decided the previous evening to validate the results of the May 14 elections for the position of bashkan (governor).
“Thank you for being with me. I thank you. I also thank my team,” said Evghenia Gutul, who was the candidate of the Ilan Shor Party, which is led by a fugitive oligarch who is wanted to serve a jail sentence for large-scale theft.
Gutul’s election came after a controversial campaign marred by accusations of fraud from the central authorities from Chisinau.
However, the president of the Electoral Commis