Speaker criticizes Russian diplomat Oleg Ozerov’s attempts to visit Evghenia Guțul in prison: It’s none of his business

Speaker Igor Grosu has described as “provocative” the repeated attempts by the Russian Federation’s designated but unaccredited ambassador, Oleg Ozerov, to visit former Governor of Gagauzia Evghenia Guțul in prison. He made these statements this evening at a TV show, where he provided details about the authorities’ position regarding the Russian diplomat’s actions.

“Not his business”

Igor Grosu confirmed that there had been several attempts by Oleg Ozerov to obtain a meeting with Evghenia Guțul, who was previously convicted for actions aimed at interfering in the internal affairs and electoral processes of the Republic of Moldova for the benefit of the Russian Federation. The head of the legislature stressed that the ban imposed by state institutions is a correct and necessary measure.

“Look, it’s none of his business. Visiting a person who was convicted precisely because she took part in the interference by the state he represents in our internal affairs is a provocative action. Our authorities acted absolutely correctly by not allowing him to do this, and he must continue to be treated in the same manner,” the Speaker emphasized.

Uncertain status of the unaccredited diplomat

A separate topic of discussion was the atypical legal situation of Oleg Ozerov, who is in Chișinău without having gone through the official accreditation procedure. Igor Grosu acknowledged that an unaccredited diplomat who persists in controversial actions is a rare case in the diplomatic practice of the Republic of Moldova.

Asked whether Ozerov could be required to leave the country, Grosu noted that the authorities will examine the legal limits of this status in light of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

“It is a good question what the convention says in such cases. We will inform ourselves to see whether this status quo is without limits or has certain time frames. Until then, his behavior remains under close monitoring by our institutions,” the official added.

In August 2025, Evghenia Guțul, the governor of the Gagauz autonomy, was sentenced to seven years in prison by judges of the Chișinău Court in a case concerning the illegal financing of the former Shor party. The sentence also covers Svetlana Popan, a former secretary at the Central Office of the same party, who received a six-year prison sentence.

Evghenia Guțul and Svetlana Popan were accused of knowingly accepting the illegal financing of a political party and an electoral competitor by an organized criminal group, an offense committed continuously and as accomplices.