Peskov sets out Moscow's conditions for renewed dialogue with Moldova
In short
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moldova should abandon what he called a Russophobic policy and release people he described as political prisoners to restore dialogue with Russia. He specifically called for the release of Yevgeniya Gutsul (Евгения Гуцул) and said Moldova should declare its interest in good relations.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 15 that Moldova should abandon what he called a policy based on Russophobia and release people he described as political prisoners if it wanted to restore dialogue with Russia. He was answering journalists' questions about steps the Moldovan authorities could take to resume dialogue, according to RIA Novosti and Interfax. RBC also reported his demand for a change of policy and prisoner releases. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Peskov specifically urged the release of Yevgeniya Gutsul (Евгения Гуцул), citing humanitarian considerations and describing her as a mother of two. He also said Moldova should declare an interest in building good relations with Russia. According to Interfax, he said Moscow welcomed such declarations and was ready to move towards normalising relations and developing mutually beneficial cooperation. Kommersant also reported the demands concerning Gutsul and a declaration of interest in good relations. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
RIA Novosti and Kommersant reported that a Moldovan court sentenced Gutsul to seven years in prison in August 2025 in a case concerning financing of the Shor party. Kommersant said investigators alleged that she had systematically brought money from Russia to finance the party; it also reported that she called the case fabricated. RIA Novosti reported that she had repeatedly described the proceedings as politically motivated. According to RIA Novosti, the Chisinau appeals court upheld the sentence on May 28, and her defence challenged that decision in the Supreme Court of Justice. RIA Novosti described her as the head of Gagauzia, while Kommersant called her its former head. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Peskov linked renewed dialogue to changes in Moldova's policy and the release of prisoners. His demands included Gutsul, whose seven-year sentence in a party-financing case is described in the reports.
Key facts
- Peskov said Moldova must abandon what he called a policy based on Russophobia to restore dialogue. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He urged the release of people he called political prisoners, including Gutsul. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- He said Russia was ready to normalise relations and develop mutually beneficial cooperation. [ 3 ]
- Gutsul received a seven-year prison sentence in August 2025 in a case concerning financing of the Shor party. [ 1 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Peskov called for Moldova to change its policy and release people he described as political prisoners. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He urged Moldova to declare an interest in good relations with Russia. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Gutsul was sentenced to seven years in August 2025 in the Shor party-financing case. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Moldova will respond to Peskov's proposed conditions. The documents contain no response from the Moldovan authorities.