Pro-Russian candidates are leading in the elections for the presidency of Gagauzia.
After processing half of the ballots, former Attorney General Alexander Stojanoglu is leading with 37% of the votes and Socialist Party candidate Fedor Gagauz with 26%. Both stated in their speech the importance of having friendly relations with Russia.
These are early elections in the Gagauz Autonomy of Moldova. The position of the head of the region became vacant after the court's verdict against the former leader Yevgenia Gutsol, who received seven years in prison in the Shor party financing case. The politician herself denies the accusations, linking them to persecution by the central authorities due to her pro-Russian position and her criticism of Chisinau's pro-Western course.