MOSCOW. March 26 (Interfax) - The Kremlin condemns the detention of Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Unit head Evghenia Gutul by Moldovan authorities at the Chisinau airport, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"Beyond any doubt, the incumbent authorities are resorting to methods of the most explicit pressure on politicians who are popular one way or another and are able to somehow compete with [Moldovan President] Maia Sandu," Peskov told journalists.
"It's very bad that they are going beyond the boundaries of all democratic norms and principles. In many ways, they are obviously copying the conduct of neighboring Romania, which trampled upon democracy in [Calin] Georgescu's case," he said.
"We certainly condemn such actions. We believe that Chisinau should abandon such methods and allow all political forces in the country to act unhindered," Peskov said.
"Apparently, Chisinau has chosen the tactic of ignoring the law, democracy principles, the principles of political pluralism, simply putting overt pressure on all political rivals," he said.
Gutul was detained at the Chisinau airport on Tuesday evening while checking in for a flight to Istanbul. The Moldovan National Anticorruption Center said she was detained for 72 hours.