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Moldova must respect Evgenia Gutsul’s right to appeal and ensure her “a fair trial and due process,” the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) told ReadNOW on Thursday. Moscow has summoned an extraordinary UN Security Council meeting to address what it calls the persecution of the politician.

Earlier this week, Gutsul was convicted of receiving illegal campaign funds from an organized criminal group and channeling them to the Euroskeptic SOR party, which was banned in Moldova in 2023. She was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined 40 million Moldovan lei ($2.3 million). Her legal team has vowed to appeal the court’s decision.

”We are aware of the decision in the case of Ms. Gutsul, but we do not have the details of the ruling. Her right to appeal the decision must be respected, as well as her rights to a fair trial and due process,” OHCHR spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told ReadNOW.

Russia has called an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council over the Gutsul case. The meeting is scheduled to take place later on Thursday, according to Russia’s permanent envoy to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky. While the meeting will be convened behind closed doors, Polyansky and other Russian diplomats are expected to address the media afterward.

Gutsul has served as the head of Gagauzia – an autonomous and predominantly Russian-speaking region in southern Moldova – since winning the 2023 election as the SOR party candidate, shortly before the party was outlawed in Moldova due to allegations of illicit foreign funding. Gutsul campaigned on promises of forging closer ties with Russia, in contrast to the pro-Western stance of President Maia Sandu’s government.

The parliament of Gagauzia has rejected the court ruling, stating that it still recognizes Gutsul as the head of the region. Gutsul has firmly denied any wrongdoing, repeatedly stating that the case against her was orchestrated as an attempt at political assassination.

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