In May 2023, Moldova's Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia voted for a new governor - or bashkan. This was won in the second round by Evghenia Gutsal, a pro-Russian candidate representing the Ilan Shor Party - named after a prominent oligarch convicted of embezzlement. However, the central government has contested the result. Amidst claims of electoral fraud, Moldovan police raided the headquarters of the Gagauz Electoral Commission. All this has led to fears that tensions are rising again in a region that once tried to break away from Moldova. But are such concerns justified? The origins of the Gagauz are shrouded in mystery. Although they speak a language closely related to Turkish, they are predominantly Christian Orthodox. While they were first settled in Bessarabia (now Moldova) in the early nineteenth century by Imperial Russia. However, during Soviet rule, they were deliberately Russified as part of a general effort to keep majority Romanian nationalism in check. This all came to a head in 1990. As the Soviet Union broke apart, Gagauzia, alongside nearby Transnistria, declared independence. But just four years later, it agreed to accept territorial autonomy within Moldova under an agreement that saw it granted its own parliament, government, and governor. Since then, Gagauzia has come to be seen as a rare example of an attempted secession successfully resolved by peaceful reintegration back into the country it broke away from. But over the past decade, tensions have been rising as Moldova pursues EU integration - a process many Gagauz see as an attempt to unite with neighbouring Romania. Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the Ukraine War, the pro-Russian sentiments of the Gagauz have become a growing source of concern as Moldova claims Moscow is interfering in its internal affairs. This has all come to a head with the most recent elections in Gagauzia, which saw all eight candidates adopt pro-Russian positions. So, is Gagauzia becoming a new source of pro-Russian problems for Moldova? MY NEW BOOK! Secession and State Creation: What Everyone Needs to Know Oxford University Press https://global.oup.com/academic/product/secession-and-state-creation-9780190494049 Amazon https://amzn.to/2MPY3W2 Audiobooks.com https://www.audiobooks.co.uk/audiobook/secession-and-state-creation-what-everyone-needs-to-know/637281 SUPPORT THE CHANNEL Hello and welcome! My name is James Ker-Lindsay, and here I take an informed look at International Relations, conflict, security, and statehood. If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe. If you want more, including exclusive content and access to the channel Discord server, please consider becoming a Channel Member or support me through Patreon. I would greatly appreciate your support. Thank you! SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE null BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER null JOIN MY PATREON PAGE https://www.patreon.com/JamesKerLindsay VIDEO CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Titles 00:47 Secession and Reintegration: Moldova and Gagauzia 02:19 Moldova and Gagauzia: Location and Population 03:38 The Origins of Gagauzia 05:54 Gagauzia Declares Independence 07:06 Gagauz Peace Agreement and Autonomy 08:46 Moldova-Gagauzia Relations after the Agreement 10:36 Growing Tensions Between Moldova and Gagauzia 12:56 A New Gagauz Independence Effort? SOURCES AND FURTHER READING Republic of Moldova https://moldova.md/en Government of Gagauzia https://www.gagauzia.md/ Law on the Special Status of Gagauzia https://www.mskgagauzia.md/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Zakon-344-angl.pdf EU-Moldova Association Agreement 2005 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2014.260.01.0004.01.ENG Gagauz | Minority Rights Group https://minorityrights.org/minorities/gagauz/ EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO https://kit.co/JamesKerLindsay DISCLAIMERS - The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation. - Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you. #Gagauzia #Moldova #Russia