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By Alexander Tanas

CHISINAU, June 14 (Reuters) - Moldova held local elections on Sunday with polls forecasting big wins for pro-Moscow parties at a time of political turmoil following the resignation of the prime minister and the theft of $1 billion from the country's banking system.

The departure on Friday of the 38-year-old pro-Europe premier Chiril Gaburici after just over 100 days in office came as the tiny former Soviet republic, one of Europe's poorest states, seethes with resentment over the missing cash, equivalent to around one-eighth of annual GDP.

Moldova is governed by a minority coalition supported by two pro-European parties, but economic mismanagement, trade pressure from Russia and the failure of successive governments to tackle corruption mean nostalgia for Soviet times and traditional links with Moscow remains high among large sections of the population.

Opinion polls show the majority of regional seats being won by leftist parties that support Moldovan membership of the Moscow-led Customs Union, which would facilitate exports of wine and food products to a free-trade zone between members Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Russia imposed embargoes on Moldovan produce in 2013 after Chisinau shunned Customs Union membership by signing an association agreement with the European Union.

Last week Moscow eased some of the import restrictions in what has been interpreted as a sign of support for pro-Russia parties ahead of the vote.

Following the local elections, an attempt will be made to form a new pro-European coalition, which would require the support of the liberal and communist parties. If this fails, a fresh parliamentary election could be called.

Dissatisfaction with the authorities is running high - thousands took to the streets in May to protest the disappearance of the $1 billion from three of the country's largest banks, bankrupted by a series of non-performing loans. (Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

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