The United States has imposed sanctions against the governor of the pro-Russian autonomous Gagauzia region in Moldova, Evgenia Gutul, the US embassy in Moldova said on June 12.

Over a short period of only one year, Gutul turned from an anonymous member of the Shor party into the governor of Gagauzia and among the very few candidates fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor can nominate for the presidential elections this year.

Gutul risks being put on trial for treason in Moldova following her involvement in the organisation of the Pobeda political bloc, sponsored by Shor in Moscow, MP and a leading member of the ruling party Lilian Carp announced.

The Treason Law, revised in a third reading in parliament, has not yet been promulgated by the presidency. In the third reading, the excessive focus on disinformation was reportedly eliminated after repeated criticism by NGOs.

Moldovan opposition politicians announced in April the formation of a new pro-Russian political bloc at a meeting organised by Shor in Moscow.

Among the participants of the Pobeda congress was Gutul, who has become the most active member of the political bloc in the country. Gutul previously attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum alongside former Moldovan president Igor Dodon, who is not part of the Pobeda bloc and pursues a more moderate pro-Russian policy.

Three Moldovan companies reportedly providing indirect military equipment to Russian customers were also included in the sanctions list.

“The United States announced sanctions against the governor of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, as an active collaborator of the fugitive, convicted oligarch Ilan Shor and his Shor party, as well as their Kremlin-backed attempts at illegal political interference,” the embassy said in a statement.

In addition, the United States imposed sanctions against three Moldovan companies — Airrock Solutions, Aerostage Services and Max Jet Service — "for the supply of aviation and electronic components to companies based in Russia”. 

US sanctions include a travel ban, an asset freeze and a ban on transactions within the United States and with American citizens. In addition, they prohibit the sale of goods, provision of services and transfer of money to people who are on sanctions lists.