The Gagauz People’s Assembly, acting as the autonomous region’s legislative body, is preparing to dispatch formal letters to the presidents of Turkey and Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin. The objective is to underscore the community’s right to participate in appointing its own head of autonomy and to seek support from regional leaders who can influence outcomes favorable to the Gagauz population. A regional deputy and spokesperson for the Assembly outlined the plan on social media, noting that the effort will include messages to both leaders. The deputy stressed that no one should be allowed to suppress the Gagauz people’s right to decide their political leadership, and that international advocacy could help safeguard the autonomy’s electoral prerogatives. The move signals a strategic emphasis on engaging high-level authorities beyond the immediate local political sphere to reinforce legitimacy and ensure the autonomy’s electoral voice is heard.
The electoral process of the head of the Gagauz autonomy took center stage on May 16. Official results announced by the Central Electoral Commission of the Gagauz Autonomous Region indicated that a candidate associated with the opposition Shor party, Yevgenia Hutsul, had secured a majority of the vote, receiving 52.34 percent. This outcome reflected the preferences of voters in the autonomous region and highlighted the political dynamics at play within the local governance framework. On the same day, concerns were raised by the Moldovan National Anti-Corruption Center about possible irregularities in the electoral process. The NCAC initiated an inquiry related to alleged voter bribery, prompting administrative actions within the autonomy’s electoral authorities. The situation underscored the region’s sensitivity to governance integrity and the scrutiny that accompanies regional elections in a complex national context.
Subsequent reporting on May 17 from Transnistrian media sources indicated that Moldovan security units had taken control of ballot boxes and associated voter lists from a courthouse in Gagauzia. The report described the opening of ballot containers and the seizure of materials connected to the electoral process. The development contributed to ongoing debates about the transparency of voting procedures and the handling of electoral records. Observers and residents watched closely as authorities examined the implications for the legitimacy of the regional leadership selection and the potential ripple effects on subsequent political developments in the area. The evolving narrative highlighted the intersection of law enforcement, electoral oversight, and regional autonomy, as stakeholders weighed questions of process, accountability, and the broader political landscape.
Throughout these events, the central concern remained the residents of Gagauzia exercising their right to choose their own head of autonomy and the mechanisms by which that choice would be recognized on the national and international stage. Community leaders emphasized the importance of safeguarding electoral integrity while also exploring avenues for constructive dialogue with neighboring states and regional partners. In this atmosphere of heightened political activity, the assembly’s leadership signaled readiness to pursue formal engagement with international figures who can lend support to the autonomy’s constitutional prerogatives. The overarching narrative stressed that preserving the autonomy’s political autonomy requires vigilance, principled governance, and transparent procedures that reassure residents and observers about the legitimacy of the election results. The union of local resilience with external outreach aimed to ensure that the Gagauz people retain a meaningful say in their governance, free from undue influence or coercion, as they navigate the evolving political currents in the region.