Overview

• The Appellate Chamber in Chisinau began proceedings on October 8, with the defense seeking acquittal and the lifting or replacement of her arrest measure, and the court has not announced any decisions.
• Defense attorney Sergei Moraru argued the arrest was imposed for an indefinite period in breach of constitutional limits.
• Gutsul participated via video link, a format her legal team protested as improper and asked that she be allowed to attend in person.
• International counsel Gonzalo Boye said the investigative prison cell holding Gutsul falls short of European standards.
• On August 5, a first‑instance court sentenced Gutsul to seven years, barred party membership for five years, and ordered $2.4 million in restitution, a case condemned by Gagauzia’s parliament and executive as a blow to the region’s autonomy.