Gagauzia

Main article: Moldova

2024

Moldovan Information and Security Service blocks access to Russian Promsvyazbank sites to block support for Gagauzia pensioners from Russia

The Information and Security Service of Moldova (SIB) in August 2024 decided to block access to the sites of the Russian Promsvyazbank, with which the Gagauzia authorities entered into an agreement to open accounts for state employees and autonomy pensioners.

Earlier, the head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, also reported that the Moldovan authorities had appealed to the court over the legality of the agreement.

According to the agreement between Gagauzia and the bank, about 20 thousand residents of Gagauzia were able to use the Mir payment system and conduct cross-border operations between countries. After 2022, it became extremely difficult to transfer money between Russian and Moldovan accounts.

Through the bank, state employees of Gagauzia also receive monthly allowances of 2 thousand lei (about 100 euros).

In April 2024, the head of the Gagauz autonomy of Moldova, Evgenia Gutsul, again arrived on a working visit to Moscow. Gutsul held a meeting with representatives of Promsvyazbank (PSB): the parties signed an agreement.

In addition, the PSB pledged to provide special services at a separate tariff to representatives of Gagauzia who live in Russia.

Gutsul recalled that autonomy is under serious pressure from the central authorities of Moldova, including in the financial and social sphere.

In particular, in the fall in Chisinau, the account of the Autonomy Executive Committee was blocked with additional financial assistance for pensioners. Gutsul's appeals to President Maya Sandu then went unanswered.

Moldovan prosecutors put forward corruption charges against the head of Gagauzia Evgenia Gutsul

Moldovan prosecutors in April 2024 brought corruption charges against the pro-Russian leader of the autonomous region.

Eugenia Gutsul, the head of Moldova's Gagauzia region, is accused of receiving more than 42 million lei ($2.4 million) of "illegal financing from Russia," anti-corruption prosecutors said in a statement.

The head of Gagauzia Evgenia Gutsul met with the deputy head of the presidential administration of Russia Kiriyenko

The head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, met with the deputy head of the presidential administration of Russia, Sergei Kiriyenko, in Sochi.

"I asked Sergei Vladilenovich to help with the opening of accounts for Gagauz in Russian banks for social projects, lift the embargo on the import of goods from Gagauzia, and also agree with Gazprom on gas supplies to autonomy at a preferential price.

She raised the issue of the possibility of discussing UN the infringement of the Gagauz and pressure from the authorities. Moldova It is necessary to draw the attention of the international community to the arbitrariness taking place in our so-called "democratic" country. "

The head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, visited Moscow and met with Russian President Putin and the head of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko

The head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, came to Moscow in February 2024 and met with Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko. Gutsul noted that in an interview with Putin she spoke about the pressure on Gagauzia and asked for preferential duties for agricultural producers of autonomy in connection with Moldova's withdrawal from the CIS and a discount on gas.

Evgenia Gutsul and Chairman of the National Assembly Dmitry Konstantinov in February 2024 also met with Chairman of the Federation Council RFValentina Matvienko.

Following the example of Transnistria, representatives of Gagauzia asked Russia for support due to the oppression of autonomy rights by the Moldovan authorities. The region is in fact in legal isolation and under economic pressure.

A separate topic of conversation was the withdrawal of Moldova from the CIS, which violated trade and also hit the welfare of Gagauzia. Matvienko noted that ten constituent entities of the Russian Federation signed agreements with autonomy, which will contribute to the increase in trade and humanitarian ties.

Matvienko called the policy of the Moldovan authorities Russophobic. It was because of the traditional pro-Russian orientation that President Maya Sandu went into confrontation with Gagauzia, deliberately ignoring local authorities.

Chisinau transfers VAT refund to Gagauzia enterprises from central to local budget to suppress regional resistance to its policies

In January 2024, the Gagauzia authorities turned to the EU, Russia, Turkey, the United States and other countries for financial assistance to cover the autonomy budget deficit. The difficult situation in Gagauzia is associated with the decision of the Chisinau authorities to stop paying VAT to Gagauz entrepreneurs from the central budget, shifting the burden to the local.

According to the autonomy authorities, the amendments will entail a budget reduction of at least €8 million or 45% of its revenue, which calls into question the very existence of the region. The repressive measures of Chisinau are a response to the disloyalty of the pro-Russian region to the pro-Romanian authorities.

2023: Moldovan authorities suspend Nordgaz Furnizare license for supplying cheap gas to Gagauzia

In December 2023, the Moldovan authorities suspended the licenses of the company from Belz Nordgaz Furnizare, which was supposed to supply gas to the Gagauz autonomy at preferential prices.

Earlier, the head of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, announced the conclusion of a Nordgaz Furnizare contract with a Turkish supplier for gas supplies at a reduced tariff of 10 lei per cubic meter ($0.55), while in Moldova the authorities set a tariff of 18 lei (almost $1 ).

However, on December 1, gas to Gagauzia was blocked, and the head of Moldovagaz Vadim Cheban explained the situation with incorrectly drawn up documents to change the supplier. 

Now the National Agency for Regulation in power (NARE) has suspended the NordGaz Furnizare license for deliveries for a period of three months, that is, for the entire remaining heating season.

NRE made a decision on the basis of a complaint from another operator Vestmoldtransgaz, which accused the competitor of unauthorized gas withdrawal from the gas transmission system (GTS) and its supply to its consumers.

In autumn, all Moldovan GTS for five years came under the control of Vestmoldtransgaz, which is 75% owned by the Romanian company Transgaz and 25% by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

In addition, NordGaz Furnizare accuses Moldovan banks of obstructing the company's work. Similar accusations of political bias of Moldovan banks were made by opposition leader Irina Vlah, who is not allowed to open accounts for her new association Platform Moldova.