A view from Gagauzia on the Moldovan elections of October 20.
A view from Gagauzia on the Moldovan elections of October 20.
By Adnan Türkkan
We met with the President of the Autonomous Republic of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul.
President Gutul responded to our questions on the relations between Gagauzia and the Moldovan government, Moldova’s deteriorating relations with Russia and the US’s influence in Moldova.
Evghenia Gutul emphasizes that US’s pressure has worsened Moldova’s relations with Russia, they are defending their own language, culture and flag against those who aim to dismantle Gagauz autonomy.
“Our trade with Russia has been severed”
Evghenia Gutul states that they are in a two-way difficulty: Moldovan government’s deteriorating relations with Russia and the US’s pressure.
On the former, Gutul says“Many of our people live in Russia. We want to travel back and forth to Russia. However, we cannot fly from Chișinău to Moscow because our president has suspended flights to Russia”.
She also notes that the Gagauz people lost trade opportunities with Russia, “Trade agreements with Russia have been canceled by the Moldovan government. Before, Russia used to buy our fruits, vegetables and wine. But now we cannot sell our goods to Russia because our president has terminated all agreements with them”.
“They do whatever the US says”
President Gutul highlights that there is a plan to “dismantle Gagauz autonomy” which proposes to divide Gagauzia into three regions: “They say that the Gagauz Autonomous Region should cease to exist and instead there should only be three regions: Comrat, Çadır-Lunga, and Vulcănești.
We have our own laws, our own language, our own flag, and our own culture. We want dialogue between Gagauzians and Moldovans. But there are some trying to incite conflict between the two peoples. The Moldovan President was elected to serve her people, just as the Gagauz people elected me to do the same. But the Moldovan President does not want good relations between the two peoples. Why? Because we speak Russian and seek friendship with Russia. But they just do whatever the US says”.
Gutul on the US’s sanctions list
Gutul was placed on the US’s sanctions list again this year. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on its website that all assets owned by Gutul in the US have been frozen and that US citizens are generally prohibited from doing business with her.
Commenting on the situation, Gutul said, “Yeah, I am on the sanctions list in the US, but I already have nothing in the US. Our president just does whatever the US wants”.
Turks as the brother nation
Finally, Gutul sent a message to Türkiye: “We are very happy to have Turks as a brother nation. Turkish language and our Gagauz language are very similar. We want to live with Türkiye for many years like brothers. Peace is the biggest issue in the world today. Peace, peace and peace”.