Gagauzia’s Identity at a Crossroads: A Region Caught Between Russia and Moldova
Established by Moldova in the early 1990s to support the preservation and revival of the local Turkic identity, Gagauzia has not fully achieved the objectives envisioned by its founders. Despite initial hopes for cultural and linguistic revitalization, the autonomous region remains deeply influenced by Russia, a trend that is raising concerns in both Chisinau and Ankara.
The creation of Gagauzia’s autonomy in 1995 followed a period of unrest, spurred by the conflict between pro-Russian separatists in Transnistria and Moldova in 1992. According to reports, Russian President Boris Yeltsin exerted pressure on Chisinau to grant increased prerogatives to Gagauzia, a move facilitated by pro-Russian political factions within Comrat, the region’s administrative center. These factions successfully leveraged the regional context to secure concessions, which were welcomed by Türkiye, a long-time supporter of Moldova’s territorial integrity.
Türkiye played a crucial role in mediating between Chisinau and Comrat, and promises of Turkish investment helped to stabilize the region. The initial goals for Gagauzia centered on reviving Gagauz culture and traditions, and promoting education in the Gagauz language, a Turkic dialect closely related to Turkish. While some progress has been made in cultural preservation, the revival of the Gagauz language has stalled.
Despite efforts from both Moldova and Türkiye, the Gagauz language has largely remained confined to domestic use – a “kitchen language” – among residents of the region. The political leadership in Comrat, often aligned with pro-Russian views, has not prioritized the development of the language. The Gagauz people are now the most Russified population within Moldova.
The dominance of the Russian language extends to workplaces, public spaces, and interactions with authorities. Russian-language media dominates the region, and Russia continues to exert influence through aggressive propaganda aimed at undermining ties between Gagauzia and both Moldova and Türkiye. This influence is particularly concerning given Moldova’s increasing alignment with the European Union.
Recent dialogue between Ankara and Comrat has reportedly been stagnant, particularly after Türkiye urged the people of Gagauzia to embrace their civic responsibilities as Moldovan citizens, learn the Romanian language (Moldova’s state language), and reduce their reliance on Russian language and culture. This call for greater integration into Moldovan society has been met with resistance from some within Gagauzia.
Despite the end of the Soviet era, the Gagauz people continue to grapple with the legacy of Russification. What was once an imposed policy has, in many ways, become a voluntary trend, with residents increasingly choosing to use Russian over Gagauz. This is reflected in low enrollment rates in schools that offer instruction in the Gagauz language, and the lack of any educational institutions where Gagauz is the primary language of instruction.
Conversely, schools offering instruction in Romanian are gaining popularity, driven by parents’ desire for their children to succeed in the Moldovan labor market. However, this shift does not necessarily resolve the identity issue, but rather perpetuates it. Without proficiency in Romanian, young Gagauz face challenges in pursuing opportunities beyond the autonomous region, even though Moldova generally tolerates the use of Russian.
Analysts suggest that increased Turkish investment in Gagauzia is crucial for maintaining peace and stability in Moldova. However, this investment should be contingent on Comrat’s support for the revival of the Gagauz language and culture. New initiatives aimed at strengthening local identity are seen as vital to counteracting the influence of Russia.
One potential solution is the establishment of a Turkish-Gagauz high school in Comrat, modeled after the successful Moldovan-Turkish “Orizont” High School in Chisinau. Following the example of Bulgaria, Türkiye could contribute to the improvement of higher education in Comrat State University, providing resources and expertise to enhance the quality of education for the Gagauz people.
A stronger Turkish presence in Gagauzia, This proves argued, would not only bolster Gagauz culture and language but also contribute to peace and security within Moldova, offering a counterbalance to Russian influence and fostering a more integrated and prosperous future for the region.