GAGAUZIA PARLIAMENT EX-SPEAKER CRITICIZES AUTONOMY'S RELATIONS WITH CHISINAU

Ex-Chairman of the Gagauzia Popular Assembly (GPA) Dmitry Konstantinov refused to accept the medal, awarded to him by Gagauzia Bashkan [governor] Irina Vlah on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of Gagauzia referendum.

At the Saturday's forum "Gagauzia-2019: Development through Unity", he criticized the current relations the autonomy's authorities have with central Moldovan leadership. According to him, the current Gagauzia leadership ignore people's will, expressed at the referendum on March 3, 2014.

"I do not accept the medal. I want to end up with all these, Ms, Vlah, if there are some spare funds, better direct them to poor population segments. There will be much more benefit from this. Today it was said that the main moment in the referendum was to take the decision. The referendum was conducted and everyone forgot about him, nobody was doing this any further", Konstantinov said.

He reproached the current Gagauzia leadership with the fact that 5 years ago they were not together with people; starting from 10 o'clock in the morning till 20 o'clock in the evening nobody saw them.

"Today, on contrary, celebrations are organized by those, who had nothing in common with the referendum. I am hurt that those who risked, who have families, enterprises, who went bankrupt, but risked and took this decision, are not present here. Meanwhile, I see those who did nothing and now are just waiting to get medals", Konstantinov said.

He reminded that after the referendum, negotiations with Chisinau started on changing the legislation and extending the autonomy powers, but the Moldovan Parliament has not adopted the bills, agreed with Comrat.

"Our initiatives are staying in the Parliament for already three year and nothing happens. Our powers keep being cut daily, and all we have is silence. We have Popular Assembly deputies, Socialists, representatives of leadership there, why do they keep silence? Why do they not address to diplomatic representations? When it came to the question about elections, we were promised to have a quota in the Parliament, They promised 5 constituencies, promised that the autonomy will not be left aside. But we were deceived. The Venice Commission openly wrote so, that we were deceived. Thus, I maintain that the people should have united and demonstrated this, but it should have been done by the Bashkan. The Gagauz people entrusted to her these powers. Now, she should unite around her the people and together to decide what we do at this election", Kostantinov said.

After his harsh speech, he left the event, saying he cannot stay in this hall anymore. Konstantinov's supporters left the room together with him.