Moldova's Gagauz elect new governor

Publisher	Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date	23 March 2015
Cite as	Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Moldova's Gagauz elect new governor, 23 March 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/552f9d8f2b.html [accessed 21 May 2023]
Disclaimer	This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

March 23, 2015

Voters in Moldova's autonomous territory of Gagauzia have voted in a new governor in a region where support for closer ties to Russia is strong.

Gagauzia's Central Election Commission (CEC) declared Moldovan parliamentarian Irina Vlah the winner, with 51 percent of the vote.

Nikolai Dudoglo, the former mayor of the Gagauz capital, Comrat, received 19 percent of the vote.

The CEC said more than 63,000 out of Gagauzia's 105,000 registered voters took part in the election.

Vlah has called for closer ties to Russia.

Gagauzia – which is populated mainly by ethnic Turk Christians – enjoys economic autonomy but has Moldovan police, schools, and courts.

Last year, Gagauzia held a referendum in which voters overwhelmingly chose closer ties with Russia and opposition to EU integration.

Moldovan officials banned a Russian television crew sent to cover Gagauzia's election last week.

Based on reporting by AP, TASS, and Interfax