Police have released video footage and intercepts from searches carried out on 7 May in a file on the bribery of voters by representatives of the Șor Party to persuade them to vote for Evghenia Guțul in the elections in the Gagauz Autonomous Territory.

The images published by the police show several cases of organised transportation of voters to polling stations and interceptions of the placement of election posters in unauthorised places. Images of lists and notes with information about people and money paid were published.

Officers of the National Anti-Corruption Centre, together with anti-corruption prosecutors and employees of the National Investigation Inspectorate, carried out on Sunday, 7 May, several criminal prosecutions in a case concerning the bribery of voters by representatives of the Sor Party in order to persuade them to vote for Evghenia Gut in the elections in ATU Gagauzia. No one was detained as a result of the searches, the NAC reports.

According to a press release issued by the NAC, between March and the present, Evghenia Guțul and her initiative group knowingly accepted financial means from an organized criminal group, which were and are used for the illicit remuneration of activists involved in the election campaign for the Bashkan of ATU Gagauzia, as well as to persuade voters to vote for the party’s candidate.

“From the evidence, it was established that for the determination of a number of 30 voters to vote for the candidacy of the Sor Party, each activist was paid 15,000 lei,” the statement said.

In order to document the illegal actions of the persons involved, a series of special investigative measures were authorized, during which it was established that the representatives of the electoral staff of the candidate of the Shor Party allegedly committed violations of electoral legislation such as: organized transportation of voters to the polling stations against payment, placing electoral posters in unauthorized places, as well as accepting money allegedly received from the organized criminal group and not declared to the CEC.

“On the basis of materials submitted by INI employees, searches of homes, cars and offices of the Comrat and Vulcanesti party were authorized and targeted 10 people. As a result, lists and documents were seized with information about persons and financial means paid, cash, mobile phones and other information carriers. No one was arrested. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is conducting the criminal prosecution,” the NAC statement added.