After the Central Electoral Commission of Gagauzia published the preliminary results of the elections for the position of Bashkan of Gagauzia, several reactions appeared on social media. Some claim that these elections are “the first stage of the political catastrophe that awaits us in 2023”, while others congratulate the candidates who made it to the second round of the elections. However, representatives of the ruling party, which did not put forward a candidate, say the results of the first round in Gagauzia show “the need for further efforts by the authorities and society to provide fair and equitable information in the region”.

In a comment to ZdG, Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) spokeswoman Adriana Vlas said the party would “carefully watch” the authorities’ reaction to the allegations of electoral corruption.

“The results of the first round in UTAG show the need for further efforts by the authorities and society for fair and equitable information in the region about the benefits of European integration and the risk of Russian destabilisation. At the same time, we note that several candidates have made allegations of electoral corruption, we will carefully watch the reaction of the authorities to these allegations. The legitimacy of the elections depends on the integrity of the electoral process”, Adriana Vlas said.

The Party of Socialists of Moldova (PSRM), which supported Grigorii Uzun in the elections, who came in first place with the highest number of votes – 14,849, says that Sunday’s elections “demonstrated that the PSRM is the strongest and most serious political force in the country”.

“The second round is coming up and we are sure that Grigorii Uzun will win this election. The Party of Socialists will stand by the candidate,” the PSRM wrote in a statement. PSRM Executive Secretary Igor Dodon congratulated the candidate supported by his party and expressed his conviction that “Victory will be ours!”.

The “Shor” party has not yet issued a congratulatory message for their candidate, Evghenia Gut, but the party’s vice-president, Marina Tauber, said on Monday, 1 May, before being detained by prosecutors, that the party was “proud of the results” in Gagauzia.

“I want to thank the people of Gagauzia for their support and for yesterday’s results. You encouraged us to fight. We are proud of what happened yesterday in Gagauzia. I want to congratulate Ilan Shor, our president, to congratulate our team and Evghenia Guțul with this wonderful result,” Tauber said shortly before being detained at the airport.

On the other hand, the chairman of the Party of Change, Stefan Gligor, claims that regardless of the outcome of the second round of elections for the position of Bashkan of Gagauzia, the region will remain “under the influence of agents of influence” and will be led by a person financed and supported by Russia.

“The elections in Gagauzia are the first stage of the political catastrophe that awaits us in 2023. Organized crime and Russian-backed candidates have participated in the past and are currently participating freely and unhindered in elections in the Republic of Moldova – parliamentary, presidential and local. For example, in the elections for the post of Bashkan of Gagauzia at least 4 such candidates participated.

In the second round two candidates emerged, one supported by Igor Dodon and the other promoted by the Shor Party. Respectively, who will win in the second round is of no importance. Gagauzia will remain under the influence and control of organized crime and agents of influence,” wrote Stefan Gligor, president of the Party of Change, on Facebook.

Preliminary results
According to the preliminary results published by the Central Electoral Commission of Gagauzia, the candidate of the “Sor” Party, Evghenia Guțul, and the independent candidate supported by the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), Grigorii Uzun, will fight in the second round of the elections for the position of Bashkan of ATU Gagauzia.

Preliminary data show that 14 836 (26.41%) voters voted for the candidate of the “Shor” Party, while 14 849 (26.43%) voted for the candidate supported by the Socialists.

Grigorii Uzun: Former PSRM deputy

Grigorii Uzun was previously a member of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia and a member of the Moldovan Parliament for the Party of Socialists (PSRM). Although running as an independent, Grigorii Uzun’s symbol is similar to that of the PSRM, which has officially announced its support for him.

The Guard newspaper wrote in February 2021 about Socialist Grigori Uzun that he was given a criminal file after January 2019 he was involved in a brawl on the shore of a lake in Vulcanesti, in which several people allegedly participated.

According to his wealth statement, between January 2021 and December 2022, Grigorii Uzun had income of 108 791 lei and parliamentary allowances of 105 317 lei. Uzun declares a Tayota Land Cruiser car worth 1 441 250 lei whose owner is blurred in the declaration of assets, a Tayota Hilux worth 1 650 000 (it is not indicated in what currency) and six trucks worth a total of 21 040 000 rubles (about 235 608 euros).

Evghenia Guțul: Shor Party candidate

Evghenia Guțul is the only candidate running in these elections on behalf of a political party. She is the candidate of the Shor Party. She is a lawyer by profession.

According to the declaration of assets, during the last two years Evghenia Guțul had an income of 19,543 lei (including child-raising allowance) and her husband – 140,000 lei. The Guțu family received a gift of 25 000 euros. They own a 47.1 square metre house worth 300 000 lei.

According to the law on the special legal status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), the governor (Bashkan) is the supreme official of Gagauzia. All public administration authorities of Gagauzia are subordinated to him. The Governor is elected by universal, equal, direct, secret and freely expressed suffrage for a 4-year term of office on an alternating basis. The Governor must be a citizen of the Republic of Moldova who has reached the age of 35 and is fluent in Gagauz.