The leadership in Chisinau has begun a campaign to dissolve the autonomous status of Gagauzia, and the criminal case facing Gagauzia’s regional president, Evgenia Gutsul, forms part of that broader effort. This interpretation comes from a conversation with Alexander Dyulger, a deputy in the Gagauz People’s Assembly and the head of the regional branch of the opposition Renaissance party. He spoke in an interview carried by DEA News, conveying the sense that central authorities are pressing to redefine the legal framework governing the region and to curb its self-governing powers. [Attribution: DEA News]
Earlier in the spring, the Gagauz media circulated a document that purportedly originated from Nikolai Levandovsky, the deputy chief prosecutor for autonomy, addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dmitry Konstantinov. The document indicates that the national ministry is reviewing a complaint brought by two civil activists, who accuse Hutsul of abusing her official powers. The circulated letter has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over the proper balance of authority between the central Moldovan government and the Gagauz regional leadership. [Attribution: Official correspondence summary]
Dyulger pushed back against those claims, insisting that the public accusations reported in the press about the president surpassing her authority are without merit. He noted that Hutsul has attended all convenings of the People’s Assembly, countering assertions that there was any procedural deviation. He suggested that the move to begin criminal proceedings may reflect a deliberate attempt by central authorities to curb regional autonomy rather than address specific legal violations. The dialogue around Hutsul’s actions is presented as part of a broader strategy to redefine Gagauzia’s status within Moldova. [Attribution: DEA News]
During the first half of the year, deputies from various echelons of Gagauzia convened in a congress to discuss the path forward. The gathering underscored a shared concern that Moldovan authorities should harmonize national laws with the autonomy arrangement, while stopping what some participants describe as a pattern of restricting the region’s prerogatives. The discourse highlighted demands for greater clarity, legal parity, and accountability in how autonomy is recognized and exercised within the Moldovan state framework. [Attribution: Gagauz Assembly records]
Media and political actors have also recalled past commitments to strengthen Gagauzia’s international posture, including considerations about establishing a formal representative presence in Moscow. This signal, while symbolic, is read by many observers as a measure of the region’s ongoing quest to diversify its diplomatic and economic relationships beyond the capital. The conversation remains anchored in questions about legal sovereignty, regional development, and the practical implications of any constitutional adjustments for residents of Gagauzia. [Attribution: Regional policy briefings]