The Popular Assembly of Gagauzia is set to examine a declaration that provides for the creation of its own fiscal and legal structures within the autonomy, as well as mechanisms for not recognizing certain decisions of the central authorities. The source Disinfo.md claims that the draft of the document was transmitted to the autonomy leadership by the Russian Embassy in Chisinau and is part of Moscow’s plan to consolidate its control over the region.
Disinfo has come into possession of the project “Declaration-memorandum and roadmap regarding the protection of the constitutional-legal status and competences of Gagauz autonomy in the conditions of their systematic dismantling”.
According to a source familiar with the circumstances of the document’s preparation, the project was transmitted to the representatives of the Gagauzia leadership by the Russian Federation Embassy in Chisinau. The interlocutor asserts that it is about a plan whose aim is to consolidate Moscow’s control over the political processes in the autonomy and to continue using the region as an instrument of pressure on the central authorities of the Republic of Moldova.
Today, the document was examined during the meeting of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, and based on it, a project was developed to address the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
What the document contains
The authors of the document accuse Chisinau of “total dismantling of autonomy” and argue that the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the reforms of recent years have deprived Gagauzia of competencies in the field of elections, justice, tax administration, and maintaining public order. In response, it is proposed to create a series of structures and mechanisms within the autonomy that, de facto, would be parallel to the existing state institutions.
One of the most radical points is the establishment of the Gagauzia’s own Revenue Service. The authors propose that tax flows from local businesses be directed to special accounts under the administration of Comrat. At the same time, it provides for the region’s veto right over the administrative merger of local municipalities without the consent of the Gagauzia People’s Assembly.
Another initiative is the creation of a “Municipal Public Security Guard,” subordinate to the Comrat. In parallel, it is proposed to establish the control of the Gagauz People’s Assembly over the actions of the heads of regional subdivisions of the Police and the Information and Security Service, appointed by the central authorities.
Own control over elections and courts
The project envisages the transformation of the CEC of Gagauzia into a “Permanent Committee for the Protection of Electoral Rights of Autonomy”. The authors also propose to enshrine the right of the Popular Assembly of Gagauzia to block unilateral changes to the electoral legislation targeting Gagauzia. According to the project, changes to electoral procedures should be approved by the residents of the autonomy through a referendum or a consultative “popular poll”.
In the judicial field, it is proposed to establish a Provisional Judicial Council of Gagauzia, with veto power over the dissolution or relocation of courts. The project also provides for the “legislative non-recognition” of decisions made by courts outside of the autonomy, if they affect the resources of Gagauzia and have not been coordinated with the Popular Assembly.
The decisions of the Constitutional Court are to be declared “null”
A separate chapter targets the Constitutional Court. The authors propose that the People’s Assembly declare the decisions of the Constitutional Court no. 4 of April 14, 2025, and no. 8 of July 9, 2026, “null and void from a legal standpoint”, accusing the court of bias, procedural violations, and the illegal alteration of the autonomy statute.
Furthermore, it is proposed to request the withdrawal of bill no. 280 from Parliament and the restoration of the previous distribution of competencies between Comrat and Chișinău in the electoral, fiscal, judicial, and public security fields.
As external mediators, the authors mention Turkey, OSCE, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and the UN. They are officially proposed to “intervene”, in order to stop what the document qualifies as “the unilateral dismantling of autonomy.”
The document could be examined on August 26
The meeting of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26. The agenda includes setting the date for the elections for the position of Bashkan and examining the declaration “on the necessity of respecting the special legal status of Gagauzia, the competencies of the autonomous authorities, as well as democratic and electoral principles”.
Context
A few months ago, Valentin Gaidarji was elected as the president of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia – a party colleague and member of the “We Build Europe at Home” Party (PACE), led by the former head of the Police of the Republic of Moldova, Gheorghe Cavcaliuc, who has close ties with the oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc.
Reaction from Comrat
The press service of the People’s Assembly issued a press release stating that the information about the possible decisions mentioned would represent misinformation.
“A premeditated action, intended to inflame the spirits between the central authorities in Chisinau and those of the Gagauz Autonomy, with the aim of demonizing and discrediting the Popular Assembly of Gagauzia in front of the citizens, authorities, and external partners.”
We would like to mention that the Popular Assembly of Gagauzia, led by the elected President, Mr. Valentin Gaidarji, has consistently advocated and continues to advocate for dialogue, negotiations, communication, and relationships based on mutual respect and adherence to the law”, is stated in the issued reaction.