Moscow: Moldovan authorities use methods of undisguised pressure against any politicians who compete with President Maia Sandu, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Moldovan National Anticorruption Center announced that the head of Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia, Yevgenia Gutsul, was detained for 72 hours.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Peskov told reporters, "Of course, the current government uses methods of the most blatant pressure on current politicians who are somehow popular and somehow compete with Sandu." Moscow has condemned the prosecution of opposition politicians in Moldova, with Peskov urging Chisinau to abandon such methods and allow political forces to operate freely in the country.