The struggle for the button: why the conflict between Moldova and Gagauzia escalated
The Moldovan authorities continue to attack the rights of Gagauzia. Maia Sandu's team initiated a reform, which should result in the seizure of control over the autonomy's main TV channel. In addition, Chisinau is trying to drastically reduce the number of local municipalities, as well as hold elections according to its own rules. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Loss-free control
Moldovan deputies approved amendments to the legislation in the first reading, which are designed to take control of Gagauzia's main television and radio broadcaster, GRT. She is engaged in broadcasting broadcasts of the TV channel of the same name and radio stations that operate, including in the non-Gagauz language.
The main change concerns the appointment of the GRT leadership. Currently, members of the supervisory board of the company are selected by deputies of the local parliament — the People's Assembly of Gagauzia. The amendments also suggest that the procedure will be organized by the Moldovan National Council for Audiovisual, that is, Chisinau will actually take over the key function from Comrat.
Another change concerns the requirements for members of the Supervisory Board. They were supposed to be proficient in the Gagauz language and to have lived in the autonomy for at least five years. Now nothing is said about this, but the functionary must know Romanian. It turns out that people who are far from the local realities and context will be able to direct local television.
The third point is that the Supervisory Board will choose the director of GRT. There are also no requirements for this person to speak Gagauz, but he must speak Romanian. At the same time, the legislation obliges the broadcaster to produce at least 50% of the content in the language of the national minority. In general, one of the main missions of the broadcaster is to preserve the language and culture, but the director, it turns out, may not understand them.
The paradox is also that the responsibilities for financing GRT will continue to be assigned to the Gagauz budget, although local authorities obviously will not be able to influence the appointment or withdrawal of leadership. "Chisinau's goal is clear — to put its own person in the director's chair, but not to spend anything," said Gagauz politician Olga Mitioglo.
Former Moldovan Prosecutor General and current member of parliament from the opposition Alexander Stoyanoglo also drew attention to the inconsistencies. "If Gagauzia is being held responsible, it should still have the authority. If a broadcaster is called a regional broadcaster, the region should have a guaranteed place in its management system," he stressed.
Without Hutsuls and parliament
In recent years, the Moldovan authorities have been consistently attacking the rights and powers of the autonomy. Two years ago, Chisinau removed the local courts from Comrat's jurisdiction, and the judicial districts were reassigned so that Gagauzia would not have its own Appeals Chamber. Subsequently, the authorities deprived the region of its own prosecutor's office and customs.
The administrative and territorial reform is also an important topic. The fact is that the Moldovan authorities have launched the process of merging districts throughout the country: now there are 32 of them, and only five or 10 should remain. In addition, there is an enlargement of settlements and the liquidation of many municipalities.
The administrative-territorial division of Gagauzia is prescribed in the fundamental law "On the Special Status of Autonomy", which states that the region is divided into three districts (dolaya) and 26 municipalities. The Moldovan authorities initially said that this law could not be changed, and therefore the reform would not affect Gagauzia.
Now the concept has changed, and Chisinau is already insisting that the autonomy comply with the requirements. The Secretary General of the Moldovan government, Alexei Buzu, previously stated that the number of mayors in Gagauzia should be reduced from 26 to 15. It is clear that if these plans are implemented, the autonomous status of the region will be further devalued.
A separate storyline is Chisinau's struggle with the Gagauz political elite. Head of the autonomous region (Bashkan) Yevgenia Hutsul has been in custody since August last year. She was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of financing the banned Shor party. In May of this year, the Chisinau court rejected the appeal and upheld the verdict.
Dmitry Konstantinov, the former speaker of the Parliament (People's Assembly) of Gagauzia, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but in mid-August the term was reduced to eight years. The politician was accused of entering into fictitious contracts and embezzlement in the amount of 46 million lei ($2.6 million). Konstantinov himself escaped from Moldova before the verdict was announced. According to some reports, he is hiding in Transnistria.
Finally, the Moldovan authorities have consistently blocked attempts to hold new elections to the Gagauz parliament. The powers of the National Assembly expired back in 2025. Since then, Comrat has announced the start of the election campaign several times and set a date for voting, but each time, under pressure from Chisinau, these plans had to be abandoned.
The fact is that they want to hold elections in the region in accordance with the legislation on special status, as it has been since the creation of autonomy three decades ago. The Moldovan authorities had previously adopted amendments to the country's electoral code and now require Comrat to focus on them during the campaign.
The differences are of a fundamental nature. According to the new Moldovan regulations, Gagauzia does not have the right to appoint members of the local Central Election Commission, and there should not be an election commission in the region either, because only an electoral council is allowed, not a commission.
At the end of August, another amendment was adopted in the Moldovan parliament. According to these rules, elections in Gagauzia should be held not according to a majority system, but according to a proportional system, as in an ordinary district. Candidates for deputies are required to speak Romanian and undergo verification by Moldovan law enforcement agencies. Elections to the National Assembly are expected to be held on November 15, although Chisinau may block them again.
What the experts say
Moldovan political scientist Alexander Korinenko emphasizes that Gagauz television was an important media resource throughout the country.
— It broadcasts not only in the autonomous region, but also throughout the country, it is moderately oppositional, that is, it gives the floor to those who are critical of Maia Sandu's team. I've performed there many times myself. The authorities tried to put pressure on the editorial office with numerous fines, but they could not intimidate it. As a result, they have now simply decided to act through direct regulation with the help of laws," he explains.
In general, the tactics of complete subordination have been chosen in relation to Gagauzia, the expert notes. It is important to take this into account for Transnistria, which should keep in mind that Chisinau does not intend to negotiate and compromise.
In turn, Natalia Kharitonova, chief researcher at the Russian State University of Economics, Doctor of Political Sciences, emphasizes that the Moldovan authorities are consistently seeking the liquidation of the Gagauz Autonomy. And Comrat, according to her, can't do anything against it. There are options for passive resistance, but there are no forces and means for active protest.
— Why is Chisinau following this path? Firstly, Maia Sandu's team is hatching the idea of Moldova's reunification with Romania. Romania is a unitary State that does not allow the existence of autonomous regions within its borders. Accordingly, Moldova needs to become a homogeneous entity in order to merge. In addition, Chisinau is taking advantage of the situation in the region. Sandu plays along with the Europeans on the Ukrainian track, and in response they turn a blind eye to the situation inside the country," the source points out.
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