View source for Gagauzia

{{Short description|Autonomous region of Moldova}}
{{Infobox dependency
|name = Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia
|native_name            = {{native name|gag|Avtonom Territoriali Bölümlüü Gagauziya}}<br/>{{native name|ro|Unitatea Teritorială Autonomă Găgăuzia}}<br/>{{native name|ru|Автономное территориальное образование Гагаузия|italics=no}}
|settlement_type        = Autonomous territorial unit
|image_flag             = Flag of Gagauzia.svg
| flag_size             = 125px
| flag_link             = Flag of Gagauzia
| image_seal            = Coat of arms of Gagauzia.svg
| seal_type             = Coat of arms
| seal_size             = 95px
| blank_emblem_size     = 95px
| blank_emblem_type     = Flag
| blank_emblem_link     = Flag of Gagauzia
|image_map              = Gagauzia map.svg
|map_caption            = {{color box|#C12838}} Gagauzia within Moldova
|motto                  = {{native phrase|gag|Yaşasın Gagauziya!|nolink=yes}}<br />"Long live Gagauzia!"
|anthem                 = {{native name|gag|[[Tarafım]]|nolink=yes}}<br />"My Land"{{parabr}}{{center|[[File:Gagauz Yerin Gimnı.ogg]]}}
| subdivision_type       = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name       = [[Moldova]]
|official_languages     = {{hlist|[[Gagauz language|Gagauz]]|[[Romanian language|Romanian]]|[[Russian language|Russian]]|}}
|capital                = [[Comrat]]
|coordinates            = {{Coord|46|19|N|28|40|E|type:city}}
|largest_city           = capital
| government_type       = {{nowrap|[[Devolution|Devolved]] [[Presidential system|presidential]]}} [[autonomous region]]
|leader_title1          = ''[[Governor of Gagauzia|Başkan]]'' (Governor)
|leader_name1           = [[Ilia Uzun]] (acting)
|leader_title2          = Chairman of the People's Assembly
|leader_name2           = Vacant
|legislature            = [[People's Assembly of Gagauzia|People's Assembly]]
|established_title1     = [[Gagauz Republic|Gagauz ASSR]] declared
|established_date1      = 12 November 1989
|established_title2     = [[Gagauz Republic]] declared
|established_date2      = 19 August 1990
|established_title3     = Autonomy agreement reached
|established_date3      = 23 December 1994
|established_title4     = Autonomy established<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neukirch |first=Claus |title=Minority Governance in Europe |date=2002 |editor-last=Gal |editor-first=Kinga |location=Budapest |pages=105–123 |chapter= Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova |s2cid=31174219 | via = Semantic scholar |chapter-url=http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2d8e/6d05bec3d17180c10434a650c22d4bfb045d.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220195710/http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2d8e/6d05bec3d17180c10434a650c22d4bfb045d.pdf |archive-date=2019-02-20}}</ref>
|established_date4      = 14 January 1995
|demonym                = {{hlist|[[Gagauz people|Gagauz]]|Gagauzian}}
|area_rank              =
|area_magnitude         = 
|area_km2               = 1,832
|area_sq_mi             = 707
|percent_water          = 0.36
|population_census      = 110,400
|population_census_year = [[2024 Moldovan census|2024]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://statistica.gov.md/en/preliminary-results-of-the-2024-population-and-housing-census-10077_61626.html | title=Preliminary results of the 2024 Population and Housing Census | date=30 January 2025 }}</ref>
|population_density_km2 = 60.26
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|population_density_rank = 
| GDP_nominal            = €0.3 billion<ref>{{citation|title=Regional Gross Domestic Product, thousand lei by Economic activities, Development regions and Years|url=https://statbank.statistica.md/PxWeb/pxweb/en/40%20Statistica%20economica/40%20Statistica%20economica__13%20CNT__CNT270/CNT270100reg.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=b2ff27d7-0b96-43c9-934b-42e1a2a9a774|website=statbank.statistica.md}}</ref> ([[Economy of Moldova#Regional GDP|5th]])
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2022
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = €2,900
|currency               = [[Moldovan leu]]
|currency_code          = MDL
|timezone              = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset             = +2
|timezone_DST           = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST         = +3
|drives_on              = right
|calling_code           = [[Telephone numbers in Moldova|+373]]
|cctld                  = [[.md]]
}}

'''Gagauzia''' ({{IPAc-en|ɡ|ə|ˈ|ɡ|ɔː|z|i|ə}}) or '''Gagauz-Yeri''',{{efn|{{langx|gag|Gagauz Yeri}} or {{lang|gag|Gagauziya}}, {{IPA|gag|ɡɑɡɑ̝.uˈz⁽ʲ⁾ijɑ̽|pron}}; {{langx|ro|Găgăuzia}}; {{langx|ru|Гагаузия|Gagauziya}}.}} officially the '''Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia'''{{efn|{{langx|gag|Avtonom Territorial Bölümlüü Gagauziya|links=no}}; {{langx|ro|Unitatea Teritorială Autonomă Găgăuzia|links=no}}; {{langx|ru|Автономное территориальное образование Гагаузия|Avtonomnoye territoriaľnoye obrazovaniye Gagauziya|links=no}}.}} ('''ATUG'''),<ref name="PACE">{{Citation |title=Information Note by the Co-Rapporteurs on Their Fact-Finding Visit to Chisinau and Comrat (13–16 May 2015) |date=13 July 2015 |url=http://assembly.coe.int/CommitteeDocs/2015/amondoc20rev_2015.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210226191730/http://assembly.coe.int/CommitteeDocs/2015/amondoc20rev_2015.pdf |publisher=Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |mode=cs1 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|{{langx|ro|UTAG|links=no}}; {{langx|ru|АТОГ|links=no}}.}} is an [[Administrative divisions of Moldova|autonomous territorial unit]] of [[Moldova]]. Its autonomy is intended for the local [[Gagauz people]], a [[Turkic languages|Turkic]]-speaking, primarily [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]] ethnic group.<ref>Menz, Astrid. (2007). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280875731_The_Gagauz_Between_Christianity_and_Turkishness The Gagauz Between Christianity and Turkishness]. 10.5771/9783956506925-123.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Lipka|url=https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/the-gagauz-christian-turks-between-two-worlds-57426|title=The Gagauz: 'Christian Turks' between two worlds|date=22 May 2022|publisher=TRT World|quote=The Gagauz, a Turkic-Orthodox Christian people, have lived in the Balkans for hundreds of years, managing to preserve their language and culture.|access-date=20 October 2022|archive-date=6 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206120854/https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/the-gagauz-christian-turks-between-two-worlds-57426|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Bessarabia]], previously the eastern half of the [[Moldavia|Principality of Moldavia]], was annexed by the [[Russian Empire]] in 1812. At the end of [[World War I]], all of Bessarabia – including Gagauzia – was annexed to the [[Kingdom of Romania]]. A [[Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina|Soviet invasion and occupation]] began in June 1940, but the territory was again occupied by Romania from 1941 to 1944, after the latter joined the Axis powers and helped invade the USSR. After [[World War II]], Gagauzia was incorporated into the [[Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic]]. In 1990, Gagauzia declared itself independent from Moldova as the [[Gagauz Republic]] during the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], but it was ultimately reintegrated into Moldova in 1995.

== History ==
{{main|History of Gagauzia}}
{{see also|Gagauz people#Origins}}
In the early 20th century, Bulgarian historian M. Dimitrov enumerated 19 different theories concerning the origin of the Gagauz people. Several decades later, the Gagauz ethnologist M. N. Guboglo listed 21 such theories. In some, the Gagauz are presented as descendants of [[Bulgars]], [[Cumans]]-[[Kipchaks]],<ref name="Bulgarian Folk Customs pg 27">{{Cite book |last=MacDermott |first=Mercia |title=Bulgarian Folk Customs |date=1998 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley |isbn=1-85302-485-6 |location=Philadelphia |page=27}}</ref> or a clan of [[Seljuk Turks]] led by the Turkoman dervish [[Sarı Saltık]]. Their [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] confession may suggest that their ancestors were already living in the [[Balkans]] prior to the Ottoman conquest in the late 14th century. Another theory suggests a [[Kutrigur]] descent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stoykov |first=Rusi (Руси Стойков) |date=1964 |script-title=bg:Селища и демографски облик в Североизточна България и Южна Добруджа |language=bg |volume=15 |page=98 |script-journal=bg:Известия на Варненското археологическо дружество}}</ref> In the official Gagauz museum, a plaque mentions that one of the two main theories is that they descend from the Bulgars.

===Russian Empire===
[[Bessarabia]], previously the eastern half of the [[Moldavia|Principality of Moldavia]], was annexed by the [[Russian Empire]] in 1812 following the defeat of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1806–12)|Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812]] (''see [[Treaty of Bucharest (1812)]]''). [[Nogais|Nogai]] tribes who inhabited several villages in south Bessarabia (or [[Budjak]]) were forced to leave. Between 1812 and 1846, the Russians relocated the Gagauz people from what is today eastern Bulgaria (which was then under the Ottoman Empire) to the orthodox Bessarabia, mainly in the settlements vacated by the Nogai tribes. They settled there together with [[Bessarabian Bulgarians]] in [[Avdarma]], Comrat, [[Congaz]], [[Tomai, Gagauzia|Tomai]], [[Cișmichioi]], and other former Nogai villages. Some Gagauz were also settled in the part of the Principality of Moldavia that did not come under Russian control in 1812. But, within several years, villagers moved to live with their own people in the compact area in the south of Bessarabia where their descendants inhabit in the 21st century.

With the exception of a six-day ''de facto'' independence in the winter of 1906, when a peasant uprising declared an autonomous [[Comrat Republic]], ethnic Gagauz have always been ruled by other dominant groups: the Russian Empire (1812–1917), the [[Kingdom of Romania]] (1918–1940 and 1941–1944), the Soviet Union (1940–41 and 1944–91), and Moldova (1917–18 and 1991 to date).

===Soviet Union===
Gagauz nationalism remained an intellectual movement during the 1980s, but strengthened by the end of the decade, as the Soviet Union began to embrace liberal ideals. In 1988, activists from the local intelligentsia aligned with other ethnic minorities to create a movement known as the Gagauz People. A year later, the Gagauz People held its first assembly; they passed a resolution demanding the creation of an autonomous territory in southern Moldova, with the city of Comrat as its capital.

The Gagauz national movement intensified when Moldovan (Romanian) was accepted as the official language of the Republic of Moldova in August 1989, challenging the then-dominant Russian language which was the official language of the USSR. A part of the multiethnic population of southern Moldova was concerned about the change in official languages.<ref name="Roper2001">{{Cite journal |last=Roper |first=Steven D. |date=2001 |title=Regionalism in Moldova: The Case of Transnistria and Gagauzia |journal=Regional & Federal Studies |language=en |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=101–122 |doi= 10.1080/714004699|s2cid=154516934 }}</ref>{{rp|104–5}} They did not trust the central government in [[Chișinău]]. The Gagauz were also worried about the implications for them if Moldova reunited with Romania, as seemed likely at the time. In November 1989, the Gagauz ASSR was declared within Moldova.{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} In August 1990, Comrat declared itself an autonomous Soviet republic separate from Moldova,<ref name= "Roper2001" />{{rp|117}} but the Moldovan government annulled the declaration as unconstitutional. At that time, [[Stepan Topal]] emerged as the leader of the Gagauz national movement.

===Independent Moldova===
{{See also|Gagauzia conflict}}
[[File:Gök-Oguz Yeri.JPG|thumb|"Gagauzia – Comrat District" sign]]
[[File:Gagauzia map.jpg|thumb|Physical map of Gagauzia]]
[[File:Gagauzja.png|thumb|Schematic map of Gagauzia]]

Support for the Soviet Union remained high in Gagauzia, with a [[referendum]] in March 1991 returning an almost unanimous vote in favour of remaining part of the USSR.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bloch |first=Alexia |date=2014 |title=Citizenship, Belonging, and Moldovan Migrants in Post-Soviet Russia |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00141844.2012.751929 |journal=Ethnos |language=en |volume=79 |issue=4 |pages=445–472 |doi=10.1080/00141844.2012.751929 |s2cid=144754545 |issn=0014-1844|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Many Gagauz supported the [[Soviet coup attempt of 1991|Moscow coup attempt]] in August 1991,<ref name= "Roper2001" />{{rp|117}} and in September the same year, [[Transnistria]] declared its independence, thus further straining relations with the government of Moldova. But, when the Moldovan parliament voted on independence on 27 August 1991, six of the 12 Gagauz deputies in the Moldovan parliament voted in favour, while the other six abstained. The Moldovan government began to pay more attention to [[minority rights]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} The economic dependence of Gagauzia on the rest of Moldova, and the Moldovan army's inability to defeat Transnistria, created reasons for compromise on both sides.<ref name= "Roper2001" />{{rp|117–118}}

In February 1994, President [[Mircea Snegur]] promised autonomy to the Gagauz, but opposed independence. He was also opposed to the suggestion that Moldova become a federal state made up of three republics: Moldova, Gagauzia, and Transnistria.

In 1994, the Parliament of Moldova awarded to "the people of Gagauzia" (through the adoption of the new Constitution of Moldova) the right of "external self-determination". On 23 December 1994, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova accepted the "Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia" ({{langx|gag|Gagauz Yeri}}). The law entered into force on 14 January 1995, resolving the dispute peacefully. 23 December is now a Gagauz holiday. Gagauzia is now a "national-territorial autonomous unit" with three official languages: Romanian, Gagauz, and Russian.

Communes with over 50% ethnic Gagauz held referendums where a simple majority was required to join the autonomous region. Communes with fewer Gagauz could have referendums if they were requested by one-third of the population. Following the [[1995 Gagauz autonomy referendums|5 March 1995 referendum]], three towns and 26 communes were included in the Autonomous Gagauz Territory.<ref name="Roper2001" />{{rp|118}} {{ill|Gheorghe Tabunșcic|ro}} was elected to serve as the [[Governor of Gagauzia|Governor]] ({{langx|ro|Guvernator}}, {{langx|gag|Başkan|links=no}}) of Gagauzia for a four-year term, as were the deputies of the local parliament, "[[Halk Topluşu|The People's Assembly]]" ({{langx|gag|[[Halk Topluşu]]|links=no}}), with {{ill|Petru Pașalî|ro}} as [[Chairman of the People's Assembly|chairman]].

{{ill |Dumitru Croitor|ro|Dumitru Croitor}} won the 1999 governor elections and began to assert the rights granted to the governor by the 1994 agreement. The central authorities of Moldova proved unwilling to accept the results, initiating a lengthy stand-off between the autonomy and Chișinău. Finally, Croitor resigned in 2002 due to the pressure from the Moldovan government, which accused him of abuse of authority, relations with the separatist authorities of Transnistria, and other charges.

The central electoral commission of Gagauzia did not register Croitor as a candidate for the post of the governor in the subsequent elections, and Tabunșcic was elected in what was described as unfair elections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Information on Previous Elections of Governor of Gagauz ATU |url= http://www.alegeri.md/en/previous-elections/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620002107/http://www.alegeri.md/en/previous-elections/ |archive-date= 2018-06-20 |website=e-democracy.md}})</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Hensel |first=Stuart |title=Moldova Strategic Conflict Assessment (SCA) |date=2006 |url= http://www.peacebuilding.md/library/153/en/Moldova%20Strategic%20Conflict%20Assessment%202006.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025224219/http://www.peacebuilding.md/library/153/en/Moldova%20Strategic%20Conflict%20Assessment%202006.pdf |publisher=Prepared for the UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool |archive-date=2007-10-25 |mode=cs1}}</ref> [[Mihail Formuzal]] served as the governor of Gagauzia from 2006 until 2015. That year [[Irina Vlah]] was elected to the position, with 51% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 March 2015 |title=Moldova: Semi-Autonomous Region Elects Pro-Russian Leader |work=The Moscow Times |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/moldova-semi-autonomous-region-elects-pro-russian-leader/517910.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122180645/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/moldova-semi-autonomous-region-elects-pro-russian-leader/517910.html |archive-date=2015-11-22}}</ref>

On 2 February 2014, [[2014 Gagauz referendums|Gagauzia held a referendum]] with an overwhelming majority of voters opting for closer ties with Russia over EU integration. They also said they preferred Gagauz independence if Moldova were to choose to enter the EU.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Minzarari |first=Dumitru |date=5 February 2014 |title=The Gagauz Referendum in Moldova: A Russian Political Weapon? |url=http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=41922&cHash=8ffd794ad44b029f0b95198c743709d4#.UwUW057VrdL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220125/http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=41922&cHash=8ffd794ad44b029f0b95198c743709d4#.UwUW057VrdL |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2014-02-20 |newspaper= Jamestown}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2014 |title=Gagauzia Voters Reject Closer EU Ties For Moldova |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/moldova-gagauz-referendum-counting/25251251.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502185453/http://www.rferl.org/content/moldova-gagauz-referendum-counting/25251251.html |archive-date=May 2, 2016 |access-date=February 5, 2014 |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|RFE/RL]]}}</ref>

On 23 March 2015, [[Irina Vlah]] of the [[Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova|Party of Socialists]] was elected as the new governor after a strongly pro-Russian campaign, dominated by the quest for closer ties with the Russian Federation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elia |first=Danilo |date=27 March 2015 |title=E la Găgăuzia vota per Mosca |url=http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Moldavia/E-la-Gagauzia-vota-per-Mosca-160632 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709124608/https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Moldavia/E-la-Gagauzia-vota-per-Mosca-160632 |archive-date=9 July 2019 |access-date=30 March 2015 |website=[[Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso]] |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 March 2015 |title=Independent Candidate Irina Vlakh Elected Head of Gagauzia |work=[[TASS]] – Russian News Agency |url= http://tass.ru/en/world/784280 |access-date=30 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026182644/http://tass.ru/en/world/784280 |archive-date=26 October 2018}}</ref> On 19 July 2023, Vlah was succeeded by [[Evghenia Guțul]] of the [[Șor Party]], a [[Euroscepticism|Eurosceptic]] and [[Russophilia|Russophilic]] party that was declared unconstitutional and banned by the [[Constitutional Court of Moldova]] exactly 1 month earlier<ref>{{Cite web |title=Partidul ȘOR, scos în afara legii de Curtea Constituțională de la Chișinău. Formațiunea oligarhului fugar ar fi pus la cale o lovitură de stat |trans-title=The Şor Party, outlawed by the Constitutional Court from Chișinău. The fugitive oligarch's formation allegedly planned a coup d'état |url=https://ziare.com/republica-moldova/republica-moldova-partidul-sor-curtea-constitutionala-1811061 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Ziare.com |language=ro }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=Ultima oră! Partidul Șor, declarat neconstituțional de Înalta Curte |trans-title=Last hour! The Şor Party, declared unconstitutional by the High Court |url=https://unimedia.info/ro/news/c340c25e978ce8cc/ultima-ora-partidul-sor-declarat-neconstitutional-de-inalta-curte.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=UNIMEDIA |language=ro }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-06-19 |title=Partidul ȘOR, declarat neconstituțional / Maia Sandu: Moldovenii vor să trăiască într-un stat de drept, unde organizațiile criminale nu sunt protejate, ci împiedicate să captureze statul |trans-title=The Şor Party declared unconstitutional / Maia Sandu: Moldovans want to live in a state of law, where criminal organizations are not protected, but prevented from capturing the state |url=https://www.g4media.ro/partidul-sor-declarat-neconstitutional-de-curtea-constitutionala-a-republicii-moldova.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=G4 Media |language=ro-RO }}</ref> after an investigation was launched in May 2023 into suspected voter bribery during the [[2023 Gagauz gubernatorial election]].<ref name="balk235">{{cite web |title=Moldovan Prosecutors Raid Pro-Russian Shor Party in Gagauzia |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2023/05/08/moldovan-prosecutors-raid-pro-russian-shor-party-in-gagauzia/ |date=8 May 2023}}</ref> Guțul sits as an [[independent politician|independent]] as a result of the Moldovan ban of Șor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Găgăuzia nu mai are guvernator de la Șor: Evghenia Guțul va fi bașcan independent |trans-title=Gagauzia no longer has a governor from Șor: Evghenia Guțul will be an independent Bașcan |url=https://www.stiripesurse.ro/gagauzia-nu-mai-are-guvernator-de-la-or-evghenia-gutul-va-fi-bascan-independent_2961503.html |website=stiripesurse.ro |date=19 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023 |language=ro }}</ref>

In the [[2024 Moldovan European Union membership constitutional referendum|2024 Moldovan referendum on including the goal of European Union membership in the constitution]], Gagauzia voted 94.84%<ref name="2024 referendum results">{{cite web |url=https://pv.cec.md/cec-template-referendum-results.html |title=Referendum Rezultate |publisher=Central Electoral Commission of Moldova |date=21 October 2024 |access-date=21 October 2024 |language=ro }}</ref> against the wording "Do you support the amendment of the Constitution with a view to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union?", the highest opposition of any administrative division of Moldova. Neighbouring [[Taraclia District]] had the second-highest opposition, at 92.04%,<ref name="2024 referendum results"/> whereas the country as a whole voted narrowly in favour (50.39%),<ref name="2024 referendum results"/> despite allegations of Russian interference from president [[Maia Sandu]] and from the [[European Union]], including Commission President [[Ursula von der Leyen]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Stephen |url=https://apnews.com/article/moldova-elections-eu-referendum-russia-325cb2c13beb1d76565a6e2aadef971a |title=Moldova narrowly votes to secure path toward EU membership after accusing Russia of interference |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date=21 October 2024 |access-date=21 October 2024 }}</ref> and evidence of [[vote buying]] reported by [[BBC News]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cpv2vyelvmvo |title=BBC finds evidence of vote-buying in Moldova |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=21 October 2024 |access-date=21 October 2024 }}</ref>

== Geography ==
Gagauzia comprises four enclaves, and is divided into three districts. The main, central enclave includes the cities Comrat and [[Ceadîr-Lunga]] and is divided into two districts with those cities serving as administrative centers. The second largest [[Enclave and exclave|enclave]] is located around the city of [[Vulcănești]], while two smaller enclaves are the villages of [[Copceac, Gagauzia|Copceac]] and [[Carbalia]]. The village of Carbalia falls under administration of Vulcănești, while Copceac is part of the Ceadîr-Lunga district.

== Administrative divisions ==
Gagauzia consists of one municipality, two cities, and 23 communes containing a total of 32 localities.<ref>{{Citation |title=[Organic Law No. 292-XIV (see Annex 4)] |url=http://www.cis-legal-reform.org/document.asp?id=2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225334/http://www.cis-legal-reform.org/document.asp?id=2019 |language=ro |archive-date=2007-09-26 |via=cis-legal-reform.org |mode=cs1}}</ref>

{| style="background:transparent;"
|- valign="top"
| <!----------First column:---------->
{| class="wikitable"
!width="140px"|Official name!! Gagauz name !! {{smaller|% [[Gagauz people|Gagauz]]}}</tr>
| [[Comrat]] {{smaller|(municipality)}} || ''Komrat'' || align ="right"|72.8%</tr>
| [[Ceadîr-Lunga]] {{smaller|(municipality)}}   || ''Çadır-Lunga'' || align ="right"|73.7%</tr>
|-
| [[Vulcănești]] {{smaller|(city)}}
:{{smaller|Vulcănești stație c.f.}}
| ''Valkaneş''
:''{{smaller|Valkaneş demir yolu}}''
|align ="right"|69.4%
:{{smaller|22.5%}}
|-
| [[Avdarma]]                 || ''Avdarma'' || align ="right"|94.2%</tr>

| [[Baurci]]                  || ''Baurçu'' || align ="right"|97.9%</tr>
| [[Beșalma]]                 || ''Beşalma'' || align ="right"|96.7%</tr>
| [[Beșghioz]]                || ''Beşgöz'' || align ="right"|93.0%</tr>
| [[Bugeac, Gagauzia|Bugeac]] || ''Bucak'' || align ="right"|61.8%</tr>
| [[Carbalia]]                || ''Kırbaalı'' || align ="right"|70.2% </tr>
|}
| <!----------Second column:---------->
{| class="wikitable"
!width="140px"|Official name!! Gagauz name !! {{smaller|% Gagauz}}</tr>
| [[Cazaclia]]                || ''Kazayak'' || align ="right"|96.5%     </tr>
| [[Chioselia Rusă]]          || ''Köseli Rus'' || align ="right"|25.2%</tr>
| [[Chiriet-Lunga]]           || ''Kiriyet'' || align ="right"|92.6%</tr>
| [[Chirsova]]                || ''Başküü'' || align ="right"|45.6%</tr>
| [[Cioc-Maidan]]             || ''Çok-Maydan'' || align ="right"|93.1%</tr>
| [[Cișmichioi]]              || ''Çöşmäküü'' || align ="right"|94.4%</tr>
| [[Congaz]]                  || ''Kongaz'' || align ="right"|96.1%</tr>
|-
| [[Congazcicul de Sus]]
:{{smaller|Congazcicul de Jos<br/>Dudulești}}
| ''Kongazçık Yukarkı''
:''{{smaller|Kongazçık Aşaakı<br/>Duduleşt}}''
|align ="right"|73.4%
:{{smaller|87.2%<br/>4.4%}}
|-
| [[Copceac, Gagauzia|Copceac]] || ''Kıpçak''   || align ="right"|95.0%</tr>
|}
| <!----------Third column:---------->
{| class="wikitable"
!width="120px"|Official name!! Gagauz name !! {{smaller|% Gagauz}}</tr>
|[[Cotovscoe]]  || ''Kırlannar'' || align ="right"|95.4%</tr>
|[[Dezghingea]] || ''Dezgincä'' || align ="right"|94.5%</tr>
|-
| [[Etulia]]
:{{smaller|Etulia Nouă<br/>Etulia stație c.f.}}
| ''Tülüküü''
:''{{smaller|Eni Tülüküü<br/>Tülüküü demir yolu}}''
|align ="right"|92.7%
:{{smaller|83.1%<br/>94.5%}}
|-
| [[Ferapontievca]]           || ''Parapontika''|| align ="right"|28.0%</tr>
| [[Gaidar, Gagauzia|Gaidar]] || ''Haydar'' || align ="right"|96.5%</tr>
| [[Joltai]]                  || ''Coltay'' || align ="right"|96.0%</tr>
|-
| [[Svetlîi]]
:{{smaller|Alexeevca}}
| ''Svetlıy''
:''{{smaller|Alekseevka}}''
|align ="right"|35.4%
:{{smaller|33.5%}}
|-
| [[Tomai, Gagauzia|Tomai]]   || ''Tomay'' || align ="right"|95.1%</tr>
|}
|}

== Politics ==
The autonomy of Gagauzia is guaranteed by the Moldovan constitution and regulated by the 1994 Gagauz Autonomy Act. If Moldova [[Unification of Moldova and Romania|decided to unite with Romania]], Gagauzia would have the right of self-determination.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benkö |first=Levente |title=Autonomy in Gagauzia: A Precedent for Central and Eastern Europe? |url=http://www.east-west-wg.org/cst/cst-mold/levente.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030320054646/http://www.east-west-wg.org/cst/cst-mold/levente.html |archive-date=2003-03-20 |website=east-west-wg.org}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Opinion on the Law on Modification and Addition in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova in Particular Concerning the Status of Gagauzia |url=http://www.venice.coe.int/docs/2002/CDL-AD(2002)020-e.asp |year=2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211234838/http://www.venice.coe.int/docs/2002/CDL-AD(2002)020-e.asp |access-date= 2007-11-24 |archive-date=2007-12-11 |mode=cs1 |via=[[Council of Europe]] |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Halk Topluşu|Gagauz People's Assembly]] ({{langx|gag|[[Halk Topluşu]]}}; {{langx|ro|Adunarea Populară|links=no}}) has a mandate for lawmaking powers within its own jurisdiction. This includes laws on education, culture, local development, budgetary and taxation issues, social security, and questions of territorial administration. The People's Assembly also has two special powers: it may participate in the formulation of Moldova's internal and foreign policy; and, should central regulations interfere with the jurisdiction of Gagauz-Yeri, it has the right of appeal to Moldova's [[List of constitutional courts|Constitutional Court]].

The highest official of Gagauzia, who heads the executive power structure, is the [[Governor of Gagauzia]] ({{langx|gag|Başkan|links=no}}; {{langx|ro|Guvernatorul Găgăuziei|links=no}}). The governor is elected by popular [[suffrage]] for a four-year term, and has power over all public administrative bodies of Gagauzia. The governor is also a member of the Government of the Republic of Moldova. Eligibility for governorship requires fluency in the Gagauz language, Moldovan citizenship, and a minimum age of 35 years.

Permanent executive power in Gagauz Yeri is exercised by the [[Executive Committee of Gagauzia|Executive Committee]] (''Bakannik Komiteti'' / ''Comitetul Executiv''). Its members are appointed by the governor, or by a [[majority|simple majority]] vote in the Assembly at its first session. The Committee ensures the application of the laws of the Republic of Moldova and those of the Assembly of Gagauz-Yeri.

As part of its autonomy, Gagauzia has its own [[police]] force.<ref>{{Citation |title=[Moldovan Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia] |url= http://www.e-democracy.md/files/elections/gagauzia2006/special-legal-status-gagauzia-ro.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903204011/http://www.e-democracy.md/files/elections/gagauzia2006/special-legal-status-gagauzia-ro.pdf |language=ro |archive-date=September 3, 2009 |mode=cs1 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

[[Gagauz Halkı]] is a former Gagauz separatist political party, now outlawed.

===Elections===
Elections for the local governor and parliament as well as referendums take place in the autonomous region.

The population also votes in the national legislatives elections.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Gagauz regional elections since 1995<ref>{{Cite web |title=Categorie: Alegeri în Găgăuzia |url=https://alegeri.md/w/Categorie:Alegeri_%C3%AEn_G%C4%83g%C4%83uzia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714201225/https://alegeri.md/w/Categorie:Alegeri_%C3%AEn_G%C4%83g%C4%83uzia |archive-date=2021-07-14 |access-date=2021-07-14 |website=Alegeri.md |language=ro}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2"| '''Parties'''
! 1995
! 1999
! 2003
! 2008
! 2012
! 2016
! [[2021 Gagauz legislative election|2021]]
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova}}"|
|[[Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova]] (PSRM)
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 1
|align="right" | 6
|align="right" rowspan="2" | 9
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova}}"|
|[[Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova]] (PCRM)
|align="right" | 8
|align="right" | 4
|align="right" | 16
|align="right" | 10
|align="right" | 7
|align="right" | –
|-
|
|[[We Build Europe at Home Party]] (PACE)
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 1
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party of Moldova}}"|
|[[Democratic Party of Moldova]] (PDM)
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 1
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 2
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 1
|align="right" | –
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova}}"|
|[[Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova]] (PLDM)
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 2
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Șor Party}}"|
|[[Șor Party|Socio-Political Movement "Equality"]]
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 1
|align="right" | 2
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party of Moldova}}"|
|[[Socialist Party of Moldova]] (PSM)
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 2
|align="right" | 1
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|
|Social Democratic Union "Ant-Hope" (UFS)
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 2
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|
|People's Democratic Party of Moldova (PDPM)
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | 1
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|
|People's Party "Homeland" (PPV)
|align="right" | 5
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|style="background:{{party color|Agrarian Party of Moldova}}"|
|[[Agrarian Party of Moldova|Democratic Agrarian Party of Moldova]] (PDAM)
|align="right" | 5
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|
|People's Party of the Gagauz (PPG)
|align="right" | 1
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|
|Trade unions
|align="right" | 11
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|align="right" | –
|-
|
|Independents
|align="right" | 5
|align="right" | 25
|align="right" | 17
|align="right" | 21
|align="right" | 25
|align="right" | 28
|align="right" | 25
|-
|}

== Economy ==
The base of Gagauzia's economy is [[agriculture]], particularly [[viticulture]]. The main export products are [[wine]], [[sunflower oil]], non-alcoholic beverages, [[wool]], [[leather]], and [[textile]]s. There are 12 wineries, processing more than 400,000 tonnes annually. There are also two oil factories, two carpet factories, one meat factory, and one non-alcoholic beverage factory.

== Transport ==
There are {{convert|451|km}} of roads in Gagauzia, of which 82% are paved.

== Demographics ==
According to the 2014 census, Gagauzia had a population of 134,132, of which 36.2% [[Urban population|urban]] and 63.8% [[rural]] population.

*[[Births]] (2010): 2,042 (12.7 per 1,000)
*[[Deaths]] (2010): 1,868 (11.6 per 1,000)
*Growth Rate (2010): 174 (1.1 per 1,000)

===Ethnic composition===
According to the [[2014 Moldovan census|2014]] and [[2024 Moldovan census|2024]] censuses results, the ethnic breakdown in Gagauzia was:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-21 |title=Rezultatele finale ale Recensământului Populației și Locuințelor 2024: Caracteristici etnoculturale ale populației|url=https://statistica.gov.md/ro/rezultatele-finale-ale-recensamantului-populatiei-si-locuintelor-2024-caracteris-10121_62043.html|access-date=2025-10-21|website=statistica.md|language=ro}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ethnic Groups in Censuses
! rowspan="2" |'''Ethnic Group'''
!2014
!2024
|-
!'''%'''
!'''%'''
|-
|[[Gagauz people|Gagauz]]
|83.1
|81.2
|-
|[[Moldovans]]
|5.0
|6.3
|-
|[[Bessarabian Bulgarians|Bulgarians]]
|5.0
|5.5
|-
|[[Russians]]
|3.4
|3.2
|-
|[[Ukrainians]]
|2.6
|2.6
|-
|[[Romani people|Gypsies]]
|0.3
|0.3
|-
|[[Romanians]]
|0.0
|0.1
|-
|Others
|0.6
|0.8
|}
There is an [[Controversy over ethnic and linguistic identity in Moldova|ongoing identity controversy]] over whether [[Romanians]] and [[Moldovans]] are the same ethnic group. At the census, every citizen could only declare one nationality; consequently, one could not declare oneself both Moldovan and Romanian.

=== Languages ===
According to the 2024 census results, population structure by mother tongue in Gagauzia was:<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+Mother Tongue in Censuses
!
! colspan="2" |Mother tongue
! colspan="2" |Spoken at home
|-
! rowspan="2" |Language
!2014
!2024
!2014
!2024
|-
!%
!%
!%
!%
|-
|[[Gagauz language|Gagauz]]
|79.5
|77.2
|54.4
|48.8
|-
|[[Russian language|Russian]]
|10.4
|12.1
|42.5
|47.3
|-
|[[Moldovan language|Moldovan]] (Romanian)
|3.9
|4.7
|1.1
|1.7
|-
|[[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]
|4.2
|4.2
|1.7
|1.5
|-
|[[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
|1.4
|1.2
|0.2
|0.4
|-
|Others
|0.6
|0.6
|0.2
|0.3
|}

=== Religion ===
According to the 2024 census results, the major religions in Gagauzia were:<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+Religion in Censuses
! rowspan="2" |Religion
!2014
!2024
|-
!%
!%
|-
|[[Christians]]
|99.4
|99.1
|-
|– [[Eastern Orthodox|Orthodox Christians]]
|97.2
|95.9
|-
|– Other Christians
|2.2
|3.2
|-
|Other religion
|0.5
|0.3
|-
|Atheism and irreligion
|0.1
|0.5
|}

== Education ==
Gagauzia has 55 schools, the Comrat Pedagogical College (high school plus two years over high school), and [[Comrat State University]] (''Komrat Devlet Universiteti''<ref>Comrat, street. Galațan, 17,</ref>).

Despite declaring [[Gagauz language|Gagauz]] as the national language of the autonomous region, the local authorities do not provide any full Gagauz-teaching school; most of those are [[Russian-language]] as opposed to inner Moldovan full [[Romanian language]] education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 August 2009 |script-title= ru:Именно таким образом видят ситуацию идеологи гагаузского сепаратизма, видящего врагов во всех и каждом, кто не согласен с их ультрарадикальной точкой зрения. |url=http://meridian-info.com/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=490&Itemid=55&lang=russian |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110714073504/http://meridian-info.com/v2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=490&Itemid=55&lang=russian |archive-date= 2011-07-14 |access-date=2010-03-27 |website=meridian-info.com}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[Turkey]] financed the creation of a [[Turkey|Turkish]] cultural centre (''Türk İşbirliği Ve Kalkınma İdaresi Başkanlığı'') and a Turkish library (''Atatürk Kütüphanesi''). In the village of Beșalma, there is a Gagauz historical and ethnographical museum established by [[Dimitriy Kara Çöban]].{{Citation needed |date= May 2023}}

In [[Turkvision Song Contest 2013|2013]], [[Ludmila Tukan]] was selected to represent Gagauzia in the territory's debut at the [[Turkvision Song Contest]], with the song ''Вернись любовь'' ("Come back love").<ref>{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=2013-11-12 |title=Moldova: Ludmila Tukan To Turkvizyon |url= https://eurovoix.com/2013/11/12/moldova-ludmila-tukan-to-turkvizyon/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= Granger |first=Anthony |date=2013-10-19 |title=Türkvizyon 2013: Participating Countries Revealed |url=https://eurovoix.com/2013/10/19/turkvizyon-2013-participating-countries-revealed/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovoix |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanton |first=John |date=2013-12-18 |title= Inaugural Türkvizyon to hit the world's screens – Watch the videos |url=https://eurovisionireland.net/2013/12/18/inaugural-turkvizyon-to-hit-the-worlds-screens-watch-the-videos/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Eurovision Ireland}}</ref>

== Sport ==
Not being a sovereign nation, Gagauzia's football team cannot be admitted to [[FIFA]]. However, in 2006 Gagauzia did participate in the [[ELF Cup]], held in [[North Cyprus]], where it competed with teams from other regions around the world which fall short of full national sovereignty.

Gagauzia has various football clubs. [[FC Olimp Comrat]] and [[Univer-Oguzsport]] are based in Comrat and [[FC Saxan|FC Saxan Gagauz Yeri]] is based in Ceadîr-Lunga and they play their matches in [[Ceadîr-Lunga Stadium]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Moldova}}
* [[Gagauz people]]
* [[FC Olimp Comrat]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Shabashov |first=A. V. (А.В. Шабашов) |publisher=Astroprint |year=2002 |location=Odessa |language=ru |title=Gagauzy: sistema terminov rodstva i proiskhozhdeniye naroda |script-title=ru:Гагаузы: система терминов родства и происхождение народа |trans-title=The Gagauz: terms of kinship system and origin of the people}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Chinn |first1=Jeff |last2=Roper |first2=Steven D. |date=1998 |title=Territorial Autonomy in Gagauzia |journal=Nationalities Papers | volume= 26 |issue=1 |pages=87–101 |doi=10.1080/00905999808408552|s2cid=154359743 }}
* {{Cite book |title=Gagauziya (Gagauz Yeri) Avtonom Bölgesi Atlası |date=2014 |publisher=Proart |isbn= 978-9975-4116-5-3 |editor-last=Delinski |editor-first= Andrian |location=Chișinău |trans-title=Atlas of ATU Gagauzia (Gagauz Yeri) |editor-last2=Kahl |editor-first2=Thede |editor-link2=Thede Kahl |editor-last3= Lozovanu |editor-first3=Dorin |editor-last4=Prishchepov |editor-first4=Aleksandr}}
{{refend}}
* Kahl, Thede (2015). "Die Gagausen und ihre Autonomie. Eine kritische Betrachtung aus der Perspektive der Mehrsprachigkeit (Moldauisch/Rumänisch, Russisch, Gagausisch/Türkisch)." In: Wiener Romanistische Landeswissenschaft(en), edited by Fabio Longoni, 147–65. Wien: Praesens.

== External links ==
{{Sister project links}}
*{{Official website|1=http://www.gagauzia.md}} {{in lang|ru|ro|gag}}
*{{Wikiatlas|Gagauzia}}

{{Gagauzia, Moldova}}
{{Administrative divisions of Moldova}}

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[[Category:Gagauzia| ]]
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