AUTONOMY’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONDEMNS DISPUTED DECISIONS OF GAGAUZIA POPULAR ASSEMBLY

Gagauzia Executive Committee (GEC) has condemned the decision of the Gagauzia Popular Assembly (GPA) to dismiss the CEG, the Bashkan [Governor] Mikhail Formuzal, and to appoint a new acting Governor.

On Monday, at the meeting of the Gagauzia Executive Committee, the Head of the Juridical Service, Maxim Capanji said that only from the legislative point of view, this decision is fully legitimate.      

“The decision of the Gagauzia Popular Assembly to express a vote of no-confidence to the Executive Committee, to appoint an acting governor and to dismiss the incumbent bashkan, does not comply with the requirements set by the GPA itself in this situation,” he said, noting that the legislators did not vote separately for the decree on dismissing the Executive Committee. Thus, they did not observe the legislation in this respect.  

“At the same time, the GPA has gone beyond its legal commissions and powers, while appointing the new governor. The provisions of the Article 12 of the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia, which carries the competences of the legislative body, have been gravely encroached. The GPA does not have plenary powers and competences to appoint an acting bashkan [governor]. The Article 15 of the same law says that in the absence f the bashkan or in cases when he is unable to perform his duties, for some well-grounded reasons, the First Deputy Bashkan shall temporarily replace him in this post. At the time of the GPA meeting held on November 15, Mikhail Formuzal was on leave, officially approved by Prime Minister Iurie Leanca on November 5. Reasoning from this fact, the First Deputy Bashkan of Gagauzia, Valery Yanioglo, is temporarily exercising his duties,” said Capanji.       

The Executive Committee adopted a declaration “on the attempt to illicitly remove from power Bashkan Mikhail Formuzal.” The statement also accuses the Gagauzia Popular Assembly of exceeding its powers and of trying to ouster the head of the Gagauz Autonomy, who has been elected democratically, by the people of the region.    

“In order to head of any eventual civil confrontations in the autonomy and to avoid any tragic consequences,” he urged the central Moldovan authorities “to undertake juridical measures and to give a legal assessment to the actions and documents adopted at the GPA meeting on November 15.” At the same time, he called on the GPA legislators, to cancel the approved decrees and to stop artificially mounting tensions in the autonomy.   

The statement also draws the attention of representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Chisinau, “to the illicit actions of some GPA legislators, namely – to the fact that they have exceeded their remit and that they have tried to usurp the power in the Gagauzia Autonomy.”  

“We also address to the Gagauzia residents, urging them not to go for provocations. We already experienced this in 2002, when the then-Bashkan Dmitry Croitor was dismiss under the same mechanism. In spite of the desire of some politicians and some parties, who are doing their utmost to humiliate Gagauzia and the entire Gagauz people, we shall not permit the liquidation of the Gagauz Autonomy. We call on you, to display tolerance, to back the legal authorities and not to admit the aggravation of civil and political situation in Gagauzia,” stressed the members of the Executive Committee in their statement.