The Central Electoral Commission in Chișinău will monitor the upcoming elections for the Popular Assembly in Găgăuzia to prevent violations of electoral legislation in the region and vote buying, as happened in previous elections. The statement belongs to Deputy Lilian Carp, the chairman of the Committee for National Security, Defense and Public Order, invited to the “Public Space” show on Radio Moldova.
According to the parliamentarian, the local electoral entity previously acted “in the interest of certain groups”, allowing structures created by the fugitive convict Ilan Șor to distort democratic processes and affect the integrity of the vote.
“The decision is that everything will be controlled from Chișinău, including the electoral processes. This, in order not to allow vote buying and election fraud”, declared Lilian Carp.
Institutional Void and Responsibilities
The elections for the Popular Assembly, the legislative body in Comrat, could take place in March 2026, and state institutions commit to monitor the processes and ensure the conduct of free and fair elections.
“The institutions are dismantling that pyramid that Șor built in Găgăuzia. He didn’t do it without the support of some local elites”, the deputy specified.
The mandate of the current composition of the Popular Assembly expired on November 12, and the elections, which should have taken place on November 16, could not be organized in the absence of a functional electoral entity in the region.
The Electoral Commission in Comrat was abolished in 2023, and the new entity, created in June 2025, was suspended by the court.
Recently, the president of the Popular Assembly, Dmitri Constantinov, announced his resignation, citing health problems and unused leave.
“He used three notions: resignation, leave, and the fact that they will gather and vote. I think he’s not going anywhere”, Lilian Carp noted.
The Influence of the Șor Group and the Role of Moscow
Ștefan Bejan, Watchdog.MD expert, mentioned, in the same show, that the Șor group remains interested in the elections taking place, in order to consolidate its influence in Găgăuzia.
“I don’t think the funding has completely stopped. It’s just on pause and is set to resume under election conditions”, the expert specified.
Bejan believes that Șor’s political structure has reached its peak in Găgăuzia.
“They know better than the state how many people live in the autonomous region and how they will vote”, he stated.
The expert also reminded that Dmitri Constantinov has a criminal case pending, in which he risks up to 12 years in prison, which could explain his “political game”.
In turn, journalist and expert Mihail Sirkeli said that decision-makers in Chișinău – the State Chancellery, the Supreme Court of Justice and the CEC – can influence the unblocking of the situation.
“Now the ball is in Chișinău’s court”, the journalist emphasized.
Identity, Security and Future Elections
Deputy Lilian Carp stated that the decision to transfer control of the electoral processes to Chișinău is also motivated by the need to protect the cultural and political identity of the inhabitants of Găgăuzia.
“The region has slipped into a zone of Russification and loss of identity. This is the biggest problem”, the PAS deputy claimed.
And Mihail Sirkeli supported him, saying that Moscow continues to influence the region.
“Moscow has dominated the informational and political space in the UTA Găgăuzia for over 20 years. Șor is just the administrator of political resources in the region”, the analyst concluded.
The central authorities announce that preparations for the spring 2026 elections are underway, and the processes will be controlled to prevent fraud.
The Presidium of the Popular Assembly decided on November 14 that the project to set the election date will be examined at the plenary session on November 27.
source: radiochisinau