Gagauzia Governor detained for 72 hours by NAC and prosecutors in a case of fraudulent management of electoral funds, illegal financing and false declarations

The National Anti-corruption Centre (NAC) and prosecutors of Chisinau municipality have announced the detention, on March 25, of the Governor of Gagauzia Autonomous Region at Chisinau International Airport in a criminal case based on the violation of the management of financial means from electoral funds, illegal financing of electoral competitors, forgery of documents and forgery of declarations, related to the 2023 elections.

The detention of the autonomy governor took place in the same case in which the actions of the person responsible for the financial activity of the electoral competitor in the 2023 elections, targeted in the NAC searches in Orhei on March 25, 2025, are being investigated.

According to the criminal investigation, the suspect allegedly instigated and organized, through the treasurer, the falsification of several documents, in which inauthentic data was entered regarding cash donations made by individuals to the electoral competitor, documents confirming the source of the financial means at a financial institution in the country, but also at the Central Electoral Commission of Gagauzia. In these circumstances, the electoral competitor's bank account was replenished with financial means from sources prohibited by law in the amount of 370,000 lei, which were subsequently used to purchase goods and pay taxes and services related to the electoral campaign.

The suspect was detained for 72 hours and is in the custody of the NAC. In the present case, the actions were carried out under the procedural leadership of the prosecutors of the Chisinau Municipal Prosecutor's Office, with the support of the National Investigation Inspectorate of the GPI.

We specify that any person shall be presumed innocent until a final and irrevocable court decision is rendered.