Voters in Moldova’s restive, pro-Russian Gagauzia region were electing a new regional leader and legislature on Sunday after the previous leader, Evgenia Gutul, was jailed for electoral fraud.
Eight candidates were vying in early elections for the position of bashkan, or leader, of Gagauzia, a region in Moldova’s south inhabited mainly by ethnic Turks who adhere to Orthodox Christianity and generally favour close ties with Russia.
Gutul last year was given a sentence of seven years in prison on charges of illegally channelling money from Russia to finance a political party that former Soviet Moldova says was a front for Russian meddling. Gutul regularly visited Moscow while in office.
Russia has long denounced Gutul’s sentencing and incarceration and accused Moldova’s pro-European authorities of suppressing opposition.
Two candidates, both lawyers and seen as pro-Russian, are seen as frontrunners.
Fiodor Gagauz represents the pro-Russian Socialist Party.
Alexandr Stoianoglo ran against Moldovan President Maia Sandu in her successful 2024 reelection campaign.
