VIDEO | "It smells like the FSB at its worst." Mihail Sirkeli reveals the behind-the-scenes of Fyodor Gagauz's rise. Money brought from Moscow, the 2014 referendum and the candidate the Kremlin wants to install in Comrat

Fiodor Gagauz, the socialist candidate for the position of Bashkan, would benefit from the direct support of Moscow, and his political rise raises questions about possible links with Russian special services and involvement in actions to destabilize the Republic of Moldova. The statements belong to NOKTA journalist Mihail Sirkeli. In the podcast moderated by Nicolae Chicu, he analyzed the former deputy's past, his role in organizing the 2014 referendum and information emerged in journalistic investigations about the financing of political activities in Gagauzia. Sirkeli believes that the choice of Gagauz as a candidate is not accidental and that Russia would seek to install a politician willing to confront Chisinau as the leader of the autonomy. The suspicions regarding the FSB are presented by the interlocutors as indications and interpretations, not as legally proven links.

The discussion started with the way the socialists launched their candidate, immediately after a visit by Igor Dodon to Moscow.

"But how did this happen? Igor Dodon, by then, went to Moscow, met there with two people, not only Igor Dodon, but also a few other deputies, and returned and his first appearance after Moscow was in Gagauzia. Why didn't Fyodor Gagauz go there? That seems to me to be a direct transfer of the image. Here, we went to Moscow and immediately after Moscow we came and supported, presented our candidates. This means that we, being a pro-Moscow party or a party financed from Moscow, returned from Moscow and presented candidates. This means that they are not only our candidates, but they are Moscow's candidates", said Mihail Sirkeli.

Gagauz's role in the 2014 events is sufficient to understand its relationship with Moscow, Sirkeli assures.

"One more thing we have to say, that Fyodor Gagauz has already demonstrated his loyalty and ability to participate in what is called Ruskaia Vesna. So, the Russian Spring, of 2014. Because it seems that he was one of the main organizers of the 2014 referendums. Of recruiting young people. Do you remember the case given, right? And Mariana Rața did investigations for Clean Moldova. Some young people taken to Russia to be trained, to do all kinds of destabilization. And to be sent here and when the Russian Spring, as he said, comes to southern Bessarabia, to organize destabilization in Gagauzia"Sirkeli further explained.

The journalist also recalls previously published information about the recruitment of young people and the possible involvement of Fiodor Gagauz.

"We refer to the investigation of Mariana Rață, who says that her sources in the SIS said that Fiodor Gagauz was somehow involved in the recruitment of these young people, who were sent to Moscow. And the telephone interception was published where Anatolii Kara, who was detained in the file of those who were trained in Russia, who fled the Republic of Moldova and hid in Moscow, said, here, I call Gagauz and he doesn't answer and I don't know what to do next", the journalist recalled.

Another important aspect concerns the alleged money transfers from Russia, through the political movement "United Gagauzia".

"Fiodor Gagauz took over the leadership of this movement in 2006 and the Rise Moldova investigation says that United Gagauzia led by Fiodor Gagauz and Fiodor Gagauz himself were the ones who transported Moscow's money here to the Republic of Moldova under the pretext of helping the church. But we know, from our sources, that he was the cashier of United Gagauzia who went to Moscow and brought money for political activity", Sirkeli pointed out.

Nicolae Chicu, journalist: "Well, let's see what this man's biography is. From what I found, he's a police colonel... of the police or the FSB. Studied in the USSR, began his career in 82 in the Soviet security structures. He works in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Gagauzia from 1999 to 2022, head of the local police. So, he smells like the FSB in a bad way, because you can't be in the security structures of the Soviet Union without the approval of the Russian services.

Mihail Sirkeli: And you can't be a cashier who brings money from Moscow for political activity in Gagauzia, so that you are somehow connected to the FSB."

Sirkeli also invokes the circumstances of Gagauz's inclusion on the socialists' electoral list in 2014.

"I know that he was promoted to the Socialist Party lists in 2014 in a way that 10 names came there from Moscow and they said these people must be on the party lists. And he was on those 10 names," Sirkeli recalled.

Nicolae Chicu, journalist: Because Moscow, if they put some people there, they are there to monitor the situation like what happened with Tkaciuk in Ceban's block.

Mihail Sirkeli: Because United Gagauzia had very bad relations with the Socialist Party. Formuzal (the former Bashkan of Gagauzia) hated the socialists and did not want any cooperation with them, but here, Fiodor Gagauz ended up on the lists of the Socialist Party. And the question is, why? Practically out of nowhere.