The Government of Gagauzia is determined to organize a referendum on the future of this autonomous territory of Moldova on February 2nd, although the Moldovan judiciary deems the move to be unconstitutional and is trying to prevent the vote from being held. The Gagauz Government wants to ask two questions. On the one hand, the Gagauz will be asked if they want independence in the event that Moldova joined Romania in a single state. On the other, citizens will be asked about their preferences on Moldova's international alliances regarding joining the EU or rather moving closer towards the Russian-led Eurasian Union.

Gagauzia was declared an autonomous territory of Moldova in 1994, when the Moldovan Parliament passed a law on Gagauz autonomy. 82% of Gagauzia's 160,000 inhabitants are Gagauz, a people who speak a language of Turkic origin. Gagauz, Romanian and Russian are Gagauzia's official languages.

The Gagauz Assembly and Government are controlled by the Communist Party, which opposes the current Moldovan Government's pro-EU tendencies. The referendum, therefore, has a double reading, both at the Gagauz level and at the Moldovan level.

Gagauzia has the right to external self-determination

In fact, the first question that the government wants to ask is based on a possibility that is recognized by the law of autonomy of Gagauzia. The law specifies that autonomous Gagauzia would have "the right to external self-determination" if a "change" in the status of Moldova as an independent state ever happened. In other words, Gagauzia could legally declare its independence if Moldova decided to join Romania, a country with which it shares the language and a part of its history.

Moldova's Attorney General considers that Gagauzia only has a right to organize consultative referendums on local issues, but in no case on issues affecting Moldova as a whole. Moldovan justice ruled on January 3rd that laws passed in Gagauzia in order to hold the vote are illegal. Despite the ruling, the Attorney General believes that the Gagauz Government wants to hold the referendum anyway, so yesterday the Attorney's Office announced that an investigation had been opened.

Indeed, the Gagauz Government acknowledged on its website that preparations for the vote are being kept. Gagauz Vice Governor Valery Ianioglo says that people want to vote "despite all obstacles or criminal causes" that could be put by Moldova. The Gagauz authorities have decided to allocate 60,000 lei (3,300 euros) to advertise the referendum, which is being prepared jointly with the municipalities.

(On the map, blue color, Gagauzia's location south of the territory of the Republic of Moldova, in yellow color).