Bashkan Behind Bars
Weekly Roundup: August 13, 2025
Hi everyone and welcome back to Moldova Matters. We’re splitting the Weekly Roundup into 2 parts. Today we’re going to focus on the outcome of Bashkan Gutsul’s trial and other Shor / hybrid war related news. Soon we’ll be back with a roundup of the other top stories related to politics, economics and the election.
Bashkan Gutsul Found Guilty
On August 5th the court found Bashkan Evghenia Gutsul guilty of crimes related to the illicit financing of political parties. She was sentenced to 7 years in prison and will face confiscation of 40 million lei (approx €2 million euros) of assets. Her co-defendant Svetlana Popan was sentenced to 6 years in prison and 9 million lei in asset confiscation.
Following the verdict and sentencing, the Bashkan was handcuffed in the courtroom and remanded to Prison 13 to continue in preventative arrest. She has 15 days to appeal and her lawyers have indicated that they plan to do so. She will remain in Prison 13 until a final verdict is reached on appeal, after which, if it is unsuccessful, she will likely be transferred to Rusca Womens’ Penitentiary to serve out the remainder of her sentence.
Gutsul was found guilty of directly overseeing the smuggling of Shor party funds into the country, document forgery to launder this money and distribution of these funds to paid protestors and other members of the Shor criminal network. Between January and November 2022 alone this amounted to more than 40 million lei (over €2 million euros).
The prosecution opened the investigation in January 2022 and finally sent it to court in April 2024. Following 2 months of preliminary hearings her trial commenced lasting around 1 year.
Reactions to the Verdict
The Bashkan’s lawyers called the procedures politically motivated saying "This is not a trial, but a public execution." Similar statements were made by the top pro-Kremlin politicians in Moldova including Igor Dodon, Vasile Tarlev, Irina Vlah and Ion Chicu1. None addressed the merits of the case at all.
Various Russian “elected” officials also weighed in, with a typical reaction coming from Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin who said:
"I believe that the most radical way to solve the current problem is a rapid advance of the Russian army towards Ukraine's border with Transnistria and Moldova,"
He went on to cast the sentencing as repression of Russian speakers and called for a military solution.
The People’s Assembly of Gagauzia called an extraordinary session and voted unanimously in support of the Bashkan and condemning her conviction as political prosecution. They adjourned without a formal statement, appointing a committee to draft a full text.
Almost immediately protests were held outside of Prison 13. On August 10th police detained and charged “dozens” of these “protestors” with accepting money to protest. The documented payments of 200 - 400 lei to protest and 1000-1500 lei to transport protestors in cars.
A Very Significant Verdict
The conviction of Evghenia Gutsul is a milestone in Moldova’s ongoing effort to hold major criminals accountable. In case after case convicted criminals have escaped justice, often by actually escaping the country right before the verdict is read. The justice system’s ability to hold Gutsul accountable, and keep her in the country to be arrested, is a first. It must give Vladimir Plahotniuc, and others inside and outside Moldova facing trial or extradition, pause as they consider what awaits them.
At the same time, it was not without cost, and the justice system faced unprecedented strain in attempting to hold the Bashkan to account.
Judges and Prosecutors Faced Death Threats
Judge Ana Cucerescu who oversaw the trial of the Bashkan faced an escalating pressure campaign in the final phase of the trial. Sergiu Caraman, President of the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM), announced:
“This judge was subjected to constant threats for several months, including death threats, sending macabre photos of murdered and decapitated people, repeated phone calls, including at night.”
He also announced other actions, including a campaign whereby her email address was spoofed and fake emails were sent from it. Some went to family members and colleagues, inviting them to her funeral. Others went to the press. These emails, ostensibly from the judge, announced that she was resigning due to threats and pressure from the government2.
Judge Cucerescu has served 14 years on the bench and was transferred in February 2024 to a specialized panel of judges overseeing corruption cases. There she has overseen major cases, at times coming into conflict with other judges and accusing them of threatening her to take certain positions. She has a hardline record of opposing motions whereby defendants on trial for serious crimes request to leave the country with a promise to return3.
On August 6th, Chief of the National Police Viorel Cernăuțeanu held a press conference and laid out some details of these most recent threats. He also announced the opening of a criminal case on the basis of threats to a public figure, but noted that this could be expanded to a conspiracy case as they are looking at connections to a criminal organization.
On the threats he stated:
"Starting with July 31, messages came to the judge's phone, robotic messages, calling her to the morgue. Also during this period, phone calls began to arrive in the offices of judicial institutions, where employees of these institutions were invited to the morgue to recognize the judge's body. Likewise, another SMS message was sent to some media institutions and public figures, mentioning that the judge in question had died, and that people who wish to say goodbye can come on August 3, with a location also indicated."
He went on to note that she received calls and messages 24 hours a day from various numbers and anonymous social media accounts. On August 1st she received a message stating that she had a flower delivery - it turned out to be a funeral wreath.
Following the delivery she got a text message with a picture of a decapitated person. It asked if she liked the gift (referring to the wreath) and saying "you are next."
From August 4-5 dozens of 1124 calls were made to the police regarding the building where Judge Ana Cucerescu lived in an apartment. This included bomb threats, reports that someone had been stabbed to death, reports that the second floor was on fire and more. Additional bomb threats were called in against the courthouse.
This campaign was not limited to the week before the decision and aspects of it had gone on for months. Most recently a public email began circulating offering a bounty on Judge Cucerescu with difference prices for "minor damage, bodily harm, and murder."
“Neighbors”
All throughout this process, Judge Ana Cucerescu had one other problem - a very unusual neighbor. Bashkan Gutsul was detained at the Chisinau airport in March 2025 trying to fly to Istanbul. After that she was placed in house arrest with an ankle bracelet. She requested to serve this house arrest at her sister’s apartment… in the same building as Judge Ana Cucerescu.
Immediately after moving in, Bashkan Gutsul’s lawyers filed a petition to remove Judge Cucerescu from the case noting the fact that they were neighbors and calling this inappropriate. This request was rejected, but doubtless served to notify the Judge that they were aware of her address. Judge Cucerescu has rented an apartment in this building since 2020, while Gutsul’s sister bought an apartment there in 2023 - a few weeks after Gustul won her election in Gagauzia. ZdG notes that the apartment building was constructed by the company Exfactor - a major financier of Shor’s past campaigns5.
Other Judges and Prosecutors Threatened
In addition to the judge overseeing the case, Judge Livia Mitrofan, a member of the SCM was also threatened. She received messages such as "You are next. Ana will be first. You are next. Death," and calls. It is unclear what actions she was being pressured to take, but Judge Mitrofan was largely responsible for setting up the anti-corruption panels under which the Bashkan was being tried.
Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Gennady Epure who worked the case also received death threats and robotic phone calls.
The Ministry of Justice has called these threats “unacceptable in a democratic society” and promised a rapid investigation.
Other Shor and Hybrid Warfare News
Here’s a roundup of the other top stories related to Russia’s hybrid war against Moldova:
Marina Tauber’s trial wrapped on August 4th. The senior Shor network leader is accused of obstruction of justice and illicit party financing. Prosecutors have asked for 13 years in prison. Verdict and sentencing are scheduled for September 30th. Marina Tauber is in Russia after having left the country in January.
Shor’s parties face sanctions and liquidations. Shor’s Pobeda (Victory) bloc will not participate in the coming elections following the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) rejecting their appeal. The bloc had previously been barred from running by the Central Election Commission (CEC) as a successor to a party declared unconstitutional. At the same time the CEC released the results of an audit of the Renaissance, Force of Alternative and Salvation of Moldova, Chance and Pobeda (Victory) parties and independent candidate Victoria Furtuna. The audit looked at their spending from July 1st through October 31st last year during the referendum and presidential elections. The audit concluded that the parties colluded in the elections in a “camouflaged manner.” It found massive unaccounted expenses and stated that the violations "constitute a real danger to the integrity of democratic and electoral processes, including for the national security of the Republic of Moldova." The CEC recommended the liquidation of the Chance Party, and the limiting of activities of the Renaissance and Alternative and Salvation Force of Moldova parties. It also recommended that the State Tax Service (STS) place agents in the HQ of Vasile Tarlev’s Future of Moldova party and require their presence at vender acquisitions. Following referrals from the CEC as well as the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) the Ministry of Justice announced a lawsuit aimed at dissolving the Renaissance, Force of Alternative and Salvation of Moldova, and Pobeda (Victory) parties.
Mihail Bagas pled guilty to illicit part financing on behalf of Ilan Shor. Bagas admitted to trafficking $452,700 from Ilan Shor to Adrian Culai to fund the new ALDE party. This effort was exposed by ALDE leader Arina Spataru going undercover and mapping out the Shor network - we covered this story in 2023. Bagas informed others in ALDE at the time that he could not join the party because he was standing as the League of Cities and Communes (LOC) party candidate for the mayor of Chisinau. When ALDE wanted to run a candidate in the race also, Bagas disagreed but chose to defer the matter to Shor’s decision. For his crime he faces 3-6 years in prison, but could see a 1/3 sentence reduction for pleading guilty and cooperating.
Ilan Shor has called for a permanent protest in the center of Chisinau - he offers $3000 / month for anyone who joins. Police remind citizens that while free assembly is guaranteed, paid protest is not and they can be arrested for joining these events if they accept money.
Marina Tauber claims she will lead a flash mob in the central square on August 16th as part of this effort. She estimated 10,000 people would attend and she reiterated Shor’s financial offer saying6:
"Our leader, Ilan Mironovici Shor, promises to open accounts for each person who will be with us in the Great National Assembly Square and, to compensate for your time, will pay a salary of 3,000 dollars per month,"
Tauber is in Russia. Police again warned people against paid protesting. They also called on Mayor Ceban not to issue a permit for this protest. The Mayor called this political and misleading stating that he has no power to block protests7.
Shor’s English language propaganda increases. This week Victoria Şapa, one of Shor’s representatives in the United States, went on Mario Nawfal’s podcast to discuss political oppression and threats to freedom of speech in Moldova. She referenced elements of the MEGA conference in Chisinau and attempted to portray Moldova as a dictatorship controlled by Maia Sandu. Nawfal is a crypto-bro influencer who has previously been reposted by Elon Musk. The Guardian recently reported how in 2025 he has shifted towards promoting Russian talking points as well as aggressively supporting Calin Georgescu and Romania’s far right. To read more about Victoria Şapa and her connections to Shor and the MEGA movement see our past article here:
Ion Chicu was Prime Minister under a Socialist government and has never really tried to hide being pro-Kremlin until his recent alliance with Mayor Ceban. Now they are both trying to present as pro-European.
It really is incredible how every accusation is really a confession.
This seems very hardline in Moldova - the bar is exceptionally low.
For Americans this would be 911
There is no clear evidence that this was anything other than a coincidence - but *what* a coincidence it would be. The fact that the building was constructed by Exfactor is important because construction companies in Moldova often keep ownership of some of the apartments after a building is done. This could be for later sales at higher prices, in order to rent them, or other investment reasons. Bashkan Gutsul’s finances, and that of her family, took a *very* positive turn after her election. It is possible that part of her generous compensation package from Shor involved the gift of an apartment - the kind of assets that corrupt politicians generally keep under the names of family members (like a sister). This does not connect directly to the Judge at this time, but ZdG notes it and appears to be digging into it more. So we’ll add updates if they come.
With statements like this, it is really hard to believe that she intends on actually setting foot in Moldova anytime soon.
Obviously the Mayor has worked hard to deny public gathering permits to the Pride March just this year - refusing to close streets and calling on the municipal council to ban the event.