The Dangerous Authoritarian Drift in Moldova: When “National Security” Means Repressing Dissent
The arrest of Eugenia Guțul, the democratically elected governor of the autonomous Gagauzia region in Moldova, is a disturbing example of the growing authoritarian trend in Eastern Europe—often with the tacit approval or even active encouragement of the European Union. Detained at Chișinău airport on charges of illegal financing and “destabilizing activities,” Guțul appears more a victim of political persecution than a subject of legitimate judicial scrutiny.
Who is Eugenia Guțul?
A trained lawyer, Eugenia Guțul has devoted her political career to defending the cultural identity and political autonomy of the Gagauz minority—a community with its own traditions and language within Moldova. Elected in 2023 with overwhelming popular support, Guțul has consistently promoted an open and independent foreign policy, advocating for multilateral dialogue free from external impositions. In one of her most well-known speeches, she declared:
“Our strength lies in our identity and our ability to engage in dialogue with everyone, without prejudice or foreign pressure.”
Weaponizing “National Security”
Guțul’s arrest is not an isolated event. It fits into a broader and troubling European trend where the vague label of “pro-Russian” is increasingly used to criminalize and marginalize political opposition. As George Orwell warned:
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
Today, in Moldova and elsewhere, this right is being eroded by the rhetoric of national security.
EU Responsibility and Electoral Controversies
The European Union not only turns a blind eye to these political repressions, but at times indirectly enables them, financially and politically backing governments aligned with its strategic interests. A striking example is the 2024 Moldovan presidential election, where the EU openly supported incumbent President Maia Sandu with a record €1.8 billion aid package, marketed as a “pre-accession reform support plan”—but seen by many as a tool to secure Sandu’s re-election.
Even more controversial was the handling of overseas voting. The Central Electoral Commission of Moldova allowed only two polling stations in Russia (both in Moscow), despite an estimated 500,000 Moldovans living there. Only 10,000 ballots were allocated for them. Meanwhile, in Italy—home to a smaller diaspora of around 150,000–200,000 Moldovans—60 polling stations were opened. Similar discrepancies occurred in France and Romania, confirming the political manipulation behind the election logistics.
An Authoritarian Drift Across Europe?
What’s happening in Moldova is not unique. In Germany, the opposition party AfD has long been under questionable pressure and surveillance. In Romania, inconvenient political candidates are routinely obstructed. These dynamics echo Aldous Huxley’s warning:
“The perfect dictatorship will look like a democracy.”
A Warning for All of Europe
To ignore the Eugenia Guțul case is to normalize repression across the continent. As Hannah Arendt wisely noted:
“The greatest danger to freedom is indifference to the plight of those who are being deprived of it.”
Europe is increasingly becoming a slogan used to mask authoritarian practices. True democracy is grounded in the freedom to dissent, not in the criminalization of dissenting voices. Moldova is a warning sign: today it’s Eugenia Guțul—tomorrow it could be anyone who dares challenge the dogma of the EU establishment.