Sept. 21, 2025, 3:35 p.m.
(PHOTO COLLAGE: Intent)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has imposed sanctions against a politician from the group of Moldovan oligarch Victoria Furtune, who has expressed a desire to return Budzhak, a historical and geographical region in the south of modern Odesa region, to Moldova.
The President signed the relevant decree on September 20.
Thus, the president put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. In May, Victoria Furtune said that Moldova should demand a revision of the borders and the return of Bujak in order to have access to the sea. She argued that Moldova could demand a revision of the borders, as "there is no international treaty ratified by Moldova, where it would recognize the loss of Bujak".
A number of other politicians who have repeatedly expressed a pro-Russian position have also been sanctioned, such as Evgenia Gutsul, a Gagauz Bashkan, who was found guilty in August by a Chisinau court of complicity in the illegal financing of the pro-Russian party Shor and sentenced to 7 years in prison in a semi-closed penal colony for women.
Bashkan is the name of the highest official in Gagauzia. All public authorities in Gagauzia are subordinated to him. The Bashkan is elected by universal, equal, direct, secret and free voting on an alternative basis for a term of 4 years. The Bashkan can issue decisions and decrees that are valid on the entire territory of Gagauzia.
Evgenia Gutsul was actively involved in the systematic importation of unaccounted money into Moldova, originating from an organized criminal group, mainly from the Russian Federation, by means of air and land flights (round trip within 24 hours).
Кирило Бойко