Gagauzia–Turkey relations

Gagauzia—an autonomous region of Moldova populated by the Gagauz, an Orthodox Christian Turkic people— has strong bilateral relations with Turkey and acts as a bridge between Turkey—a Turkic country— and Russia, a majority Orthodox Christian country.[1]

Gagauzia-Turkish relations

Găgăuzia
Turkey

Background

The Gagauz have been able to preserve the Gagauz language, to develop an alphabet, to promote their tradition and customs and to achieve their own autonomous territorial formation within the Republic of Moldova in 1994.[2]

Political relations

Turkey has a Consulate General in Comrat, capital of Gagauzia.[1]

The Chișinău government has tried more than once to defuse what it sees as the “threat” posed by Gagauzi autonomy by electing to take small measures—one slice at a time, and has produced a flurry of assimilationist laws that are incompatible with the 1994 constitution that guarantees Gagauzia’s autonomous statute.[3]

As a response to these challenges to Gagauzia’s autonomy, Mikhail Formuzal, President of People's Assembly in Comrat and head of Gagauzia, is seeking Russia and Turkey to defend Gagauzian culture and identity.[2]

Country comparison
 Gagauzia  Turkey
Flag
State Emblem / National Emblem
Population 134,535 83,154,997
Area 1,832 km2 (707 sq mi) 783,356 km2 (302,455 sq mi)
Population density 73.43/km2 (190.2/sq mi) 105/km2 (271.9/sq mi)
Capital Comrat Ankara
Official languages Gagauz Turkish
Main religions 96% Christianity, 1.6% No religion 97.6% Islam, 1.1% Judaism, 0.3% Christianity
Ethnic groups 83.8% Gagauz, 4.9% Bulgarians, 4.7% Moldovans 85% Turkish, 9% Kurdish 6% Others
Human Development Index (HDI) 0.707 (high)[4] 0.806 (very high)[4] — 59th
GDP (PPP) $27.271 billion ($13,574 per capita) $2.464 trillion[5] ($29,326 per capita)

See also

References
  1. "Turkey to Continue Supporting Gagauzia and Moldova". Anadolu Agency.
  2. "Gagauzia's Head urges Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan to be guarantors of its survival". Jamestown Foundation: Global Research and Analysis.
  3. "Signs Romanian Language taking root in Moldova's Gagauzia". Balkan Insight.
  4. "2019 Human Development Index Ranking | Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  5. "International Monetary Fund, Report on selected countries". International Monetary Fund.
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