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Moldova: Weak Autonomy, Central Government Neglect, and Mixed International Impact

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Territorial Self-Government as a Conflict Management Tool

Part of the book series: Federalism and Internal Conflicts ((FEINCO))

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Abstract

This chapter outlines how autonomy has been used to manage a low-level conflict between the Gagauz and central Moldovan state. It shows how the other conflict in Moldova, between the central state and Transniestria encouraged moderation to ensure the Gagauz conflict did not escalate. However, it also argues that the weak capacities and small size of the autonomy coupled with a failure of the central government to consider the autonomy’s rights and needs have undermined the TSG institutions role as a conflict management tool. The analysis shows that kin and regional states have a mixed impact. Turkey has provided helpful assistance to the Gagauz. Yet discussion about a Moldovan–Romanian union and Russia’s links to the Gagauz have been destabilising.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    King, C. (1997). Minorities Policy in the Post‐Soviet Republics: The Case of the Gagauzi. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 20, No. 4, 738–756.

  2. 2.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  3. 3.

    King, C. (1997). Minorities Policy in the Post‐Soviet Republics: The Case of the Gagauzi. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 20, No. 4, 738–756.

  4. 4.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  5. 5.

    King, C. (1997). Minorities Policy in the Post‐Soviet Republics: The Case of the Gagauzi. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 20, No. 4, 738–756.

  6. 6.

    Fane, D. (1993). Moldova: Breaking Loose from Moscow, in I. Bremmer and R. Taras (eds.), Nations and Politics in the Soviet Successor States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  7. 7.

    King, C. (1994–1995). Moldova with a Russian Face. Foreign Policy, Winter, 106–120.

  8. 8.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123. King, C. (1997). Minorities Policy in the Post‐Soviet Republics: The Case of the Gagauzi. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 20, No. 4, 738–756.

  9. 9.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  10. 10.

    Constitution of the Republic of Moldova (1994). Accessed 31 December, http://www.presedinte.md/titlul3#6.

  11. 11.

    Troebst, S. (2001). Die Autonomieregelung für Gagausien in der Republik Moldova – ein Vorbild zur Regelung ethnopolitischer Konflikte? in Berliner Osteuropa Info, No. 17, quoted in Avram, A. (2010). Territorial Autonomy of the Gagauz in the Republic of Moldova: A Case Study. Leipzig: Moldova-Institut.

  12. 12.

    Demirdirek, H. (1996). The Painful Past Retold. Social Memory in Azerbaijan and Gagauzia. Postkommunismens Antropologi Conference, Copenhagen, April 12–14. Accessed 31 December, http://www.anthrobase.com/Txt/D/Demirdirek_H_01.htm.

  13. 13.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Article 4. Accessed 31 December, http://www.regione.taa.it/biblioteca/minoranze/gagauziaen.pdf.

  14. 14.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Article 3(1).

  15. 15.

    Avram, A. (2010). Territorial Autonomy of the Gagauz in the Republic of Moldova: A Case Study. Leipzig: Moldova-Institut.

  16. 16.

    Groza, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 28.

  17. 17.

    Rank, H. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 27.

  18. 18.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Articles 1(4). Accessed 31 December, http://www.regione.taa.it/biblioteca/minoranze/gagauziaen.pdf.

  19. 19.

    Demirdirek, H. (1996). The Painful Past Retold. Social Memory in Azerbaijan and Gagauzia. Postkommunismens Antropologi, Copenhagen, April 12–14. Accessed 31 December, http://www.anthrobase.com/Txt/D/Demirdirek_H_01.htm.

  20. 20.

    King, C. (1997). Minorities Policy in the Post‐Soviet Republics: The Case of the Gagauzi. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 20, No. 4, 738–756.

  21. 21.

    Groza, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 28.

  22. 22.

    Wober, S. (2013). Making or Breaking the Republic of Moldova? The Autonomy of Gagauzia. European Diversity and Autonomy Papers—EDAP, No. 2.

  23. 23.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Article 5. Accessed 31 December, http://www.regione.taa.it/biblioteca/minoranze/gagauziaen.pdf.

  24. 24.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  25. 25.

    King, C. (1997). Minorities Policy in the Post‐Soviet Republics: The Case of the Gagauzi. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 20, No. 4, 738–756.

  26. 26.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  27. 27.

    Avram, A. (2010). Territorial Autonomy of the Gagauz in the Republic of Moldova: A Case Study. Leipzig: Moldova-Institut.

  28. 28.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Articles 12(3e).

  29. 29.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  30. 30.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Article 10, 13, & 14. Accessed 31 December, http://www.regione.taa.it/biblioteca/minoranze/gagauziaen.pdf.

  31. 31.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Articles 12(2). Accessed 31 December, http://www.regione.taa.it/biblioteca/minoranze/gagauziaen.pdf.

  32. 32.

    Venice-Commission (2002). Law on Modification and Addition in the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. Strasbourg: Venice Commission. Accessed 31 December, http://www.venice.coe.int/docs/2002/CDL(2002)029-e.asp.

  33. 33.

    Avram, A. (2010). Territorial Autonomy of the Gagauz in the Republic of Moldova: A Case Study. Leipzig: Moldova-Institut.

  34. 34.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  35. 35.

    Cioaric, V. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 28.

  36. 36.

    Ceban, V. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 29. BBC Monitoring Kiev Unit (2015). Moldova’s Gagauz Politicians Deny Links to Purported Ukrainian Separatists, October 30.

  37. 37.

    Sultanli, J. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 25.

  38. 38.

    Ceban, V. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 29.

  39. 39.

    Wober, S. (2013). Making or Breaking the Republic of Moldova? The Autonomy of Gagauzia. European Diversity and Autonomy Papers—EDAP, No 2.

  40. 40.

    Avram, A. (2010). Territorial Autonomy of the Gagauz in the Republic of Moldova: A Case Study. Leipzig: Moldova-Institut.

  41. 41.

    Wober, S. (2013). Making or Breaking the Republic of Moldova? The Autonomy of Gagauzia. European Diversity and Autonomy Papers—EDAP, No 2.

  42. 42.

    Avram, A. (2010). Territorial Autonomy of the Gagauz in the Republic of Moldova: A Case Study. Leipzig: Moldova-Institut.

  43. 43.

    Topal, I. (2016). Avdarma, Gagauzia, February 16.

  44. 44.

    Kirnitki, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 26.

  45. 45.

    Constitution of the Republic of Moldova (1994). Article 72. Accessed 31 December, http://www.presedinte.md/titlul3#6.

  46. 46.

    Venice Commission (1999). Opinion on the Questions Raised Concerning the Conformity of the Laws of the Republic of Moldova on Local Administration and Administrative and Territorial Organisation to Current Legislation Governing Certain Minorities. Strasbourg: Venice Commission. Accessed 31 December, http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL-INF(1999)014-e.

  47. 47.

    Beschieru, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 27.

  48. 48.

    Venice Commission (2004). Republic of Moldova Law on Political Parties and Socio-Political Organisations. Venice Commission, Strasbourg. Accessed 31 December, http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL(2004)023-e.

  49. 49.

    Constitution of the Republic of Moldova (1994). Articles 110 & 111. Accessed 31 December, http://www.presedinte.md/titlul3.

  50. 50.

    Rank, H. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 27.

  51. 51.

    Cuijuclu, E. (2016). Avdarma, Gagauzia. February 16.

  52. 52.

    Ceban, V. (2016) Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 29.

  53. 53.

    Member of People’s Assembly (2015). Institute for European Policies and Reforms conference. Chişinău, November 24.

  54. 54.

    Creanga, I. (2016). Avdarma, Gagauzia, February 16.

  55. 55.

    Beschieru, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 27. Cioaric, V. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 28.

  56. 56.

    Sultanli, J. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 25.

  57. 57.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Articles 12(3i–j). Accessed 31 December, http://www.regione.taa.it/biblioteca/minoranze/gagauziaen.pdf.

  58. 58.

    Cuijuclu, E., & Sirkeli, M. (2015). Reciprocal Control between the Center and Autonomy: Experience of Implementing the Gagauz Status. Comrat: Pilgrim-Demo.

  59. 59.

    O’Leary, B., & McCrudden, C. (2013). Courts and Consociations: Human Rights Versus Power-Sharing. Oxford: Oxford University Press: 116.

  60. 60.

    Vaubel, R. (2009). Constitutional Courts as Promoters of Political Centralization: Lessons for the European Court of Justice. European Journal of Law and Economics, Vol. 28, 203–222.

  61. 61.

    Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova (1995). Judgement of the Constitutional Court on Constitutionality Control of Article 1, para. (4) of the Law No. 344-xiii of December 23, 1994 on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri). Chişinău: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova.

  62. 62.

    Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova (2014). Judgement On Rejection the Referral no. 22a/2014 on Constitutional Review of the Article 14, para. (4) of the Law No. 344-XIII of December 23, 1994 on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri). Chişinău: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova.

  63. 63.

    Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova (1999). Decision of the Constitutional Chamber No. 24 of May 06, 1999 on the Control of Constitutionality of Article 20 part (2) of the Law No. 344-XIII of 23 December 1994 ‘On the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri)’. Chişinău: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova.

  64. 64.

    Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova (2011). Judgement on Ceasing the Process for Constitutional Review of Article 21, para. (2) and para. (3) of the Law No. 344-XIII of December 23, 1994 on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri) and Article 40, para. (5) of the Law No. 294-XVI of December 25, 2008 on Prosecution. Chişinău: Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova.

  65. 65.

    Beschieru, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 27. Sultanli, J. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 25.

  66. 66.

    Cuijuclu, E., & Sirkeli, M. (2015). Reciprocal Control between the Center and Autonomy: Experience of Implementing the Gagauz Status. Comrat: Pilgrim-Demo.

  67. 67.

    Moldovan Parliament (1994). Resolution of the Parliament No. 345 on Implementation of the Law on Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri) of 23/12/1994. Accessed 31 December, http://lex.justice.md/viewdoc.php?action=view&view=doc&id=308860&lang=2.

  68. 68.

    Cuijuclu, E. (2017). The Cooperation Mechanisms between the Centre and Autonomy: The Case of Gagauzia in Moldova. International Political Science Association colloquium, Democratization and Constitutional Design in Divided Societies, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus, 24 June 2017.

  69. 69.

    Ibid.

  70. 70.

    Groza, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 28.

  71. 71.

    Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), Articles 14 & 19. Accessed 31 December, http://www.regione.taa.it/biblioteca/minoranze/gagauziaen.pdf.

  72. 72.

    Protsyk, O., & Rigamonti, V. (2007). ‘Real’ and ‘Virtual’ Elements of Power Sharing in the Post-Soviet Space: The Case of Gagauzian Autonomy. Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1–22. 

  73. 73.

    Cuijuclu, E. (2015). The Mechanisms of Cooperation between the Autonomy and the Central Executive Authorities: Experience of Italy and the Republic of Moldova. Comrat: Pilgrim-Demo.

  74. 74.

    BBC Monitoring Kiev Unit (2015). Gagauz Autonomy Head Slams Moldova’s pro-EU, Pro-Romanian Foreign Policy, December 23.

  75. 75.

    Beschieru, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 27.

  76. 76.

    Cuijuclu, E. (2015). Implementation of the Status of Gagauz-Yeri Autonomy: Challenges and Prospects. Comrat: Pilgrim-Demo.

  77. 77.

    Beschieru, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 27.

  78. 78.

    Wober, S. (2013). Making or Breaking the Republic of Moldova? The Autonomy of Gagauzia. European Diversity and Autonomy Papers—EDAP, No. 2.

  79. 79.

    Cuijuclu, E. (2017). The Cooperation Mechanisms between the Centre and Autonomy: The Case of Gagauzia in Moldova. International Political Science Association colloquium, Democratization and Constitutional Design in Divided Societies, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus, 24 June 2017.

  80. 80.

    TASS—News Agency (2017). Gagauzia does not support Moldova’s policy of integration with EU—Gagauz head, April 25.

  81. 81.

    Gilet, K. (2015). In Tiny Moldova, Hints of a ‘Federalized’ Ukraine’s Future; Gagauzia, an Autonomous Region in Southern Moldova, Looks to Moscow before the West, much as Ukraine’s Restive East does. The Christian Monitor, May 25.

  82. 82.

    Neukirch, C. (2002). Autonomy and Conflict Transformation: The Case of the Gagauz Territorial Autonomy in the Republic of Moldova, in Kinga Gal (ed.), Minority Governance in Europe, Series on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues, Vol. 1, 105–123.

  83. 83.

    Wober, S. (2013). Making or Breaking the Republic of Moldova? The Autonomy of Gagauzia. European Diversity and Autonomy Papers—EDAP, No. 2.

  84. 84.

    BBC Monitoring Kiev Unit (2015). Moldovan, Gagauz Leaders Urge Unity on Anniversary Day, 19 August.

  85. 85.

    Cioaric, V. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 28.

  86. 86.

    TASS—News Agency (2014). Moldova’s Gagauz autonomy continues Russia 24 broadcasts despite Chişinău’s ban, July 11.

  87. 87.

    Groza, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 28.

  88. 88.

    BBC Monitoring Kiev Unit (2015). Programme Summary of Moldova One TV ‘Mesager’ News 12 Nov 15, 13 November. BBC Monitoring Kiev Unit (2014). Turkish Speaker Visits Gagauz Region of Moldova, May 9.

  89. 89.

    Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (2005). Moldova: The Example of Gagauz-Yeri As An ‘Unfrozen Conflict’ Region, April 5.

  90. 90.

    Kirnitki, I. (2016). Interview with Dawn Walsh. Chişinău, January 26.

  91. 91.

    Freedom House (2003). Nations in Transit—Moldova 2003. Washington, DC: Freedom House. Litra, L. (2016). Nations in Transit—Moldova 2016. Washington, DC: Freedom House.

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  1. School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Dawn Walsh

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  1. Dawn Walsh
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Correspondence to Dawn Walsh .

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Walsh, D. (2018). Moldova: Weak Autonomy, Central Government Neglect, and Mixed International Impact. In: Territorial Self-Government as a Conflict Management Tool. Federalism and Internal Conflicts. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77234-9_5

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