Deepening alienation in Comrat: Promo-LEX poll highlights Russian influence and linguistic barriers
A new sociological study by Promo-LEX, released on April 16, 2026, reveals a deepening rift between the central government in Chisinau and the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (UTAG). The data highlights widespread distrust in democratic processes, a pivot toward Russian influence, and significant barriers to linguistic integration.
Election uncertainty and expired mandates
The mandate of the People’s Assembly in Comrat expired on November 12, 2025, yet a new election date remains unset. Currently, 44% of residents favor a joint effort between the local electoral council and Chisinau’s Central Electoral Commission to organize future polls.
Only 40% of respondents believe conditions in the region allow for free and fair elections. Meanwhile, 57% support reducing the number of regional deputies from the current 35, signaling a desire for structural reform amid the political vacuum.
Geopolitical misalignment and Russian influence
The survey underscores a stark geopolitical divide. While Moldova pursues EU membership, only 6% of Gagauzia’s residents support this path, compared to 39% who favor closer ties with the Russian Federation.
A plurality of 42% advocates for a balanced foreign policy between East and West. However, the institutional relationship remains strained, with 50% of respondents describing the link between Chisinau and Comrat as "bad" or "very bad."
Linguistic barriers and social integration
Social cohesion remains fragile, as over 50% of respondents do not feel fully part of Moldovan society. This alienation is mirrored in language use, where 67% of the population neither knows nor uses the official Romanian language in daily life.
Despite this, there is a pragmatic recognition of the language's importance. Approximately 60% of residents acknowledge that Romanian is necessary for daily routines, though 36% still believe its knowledge should not be mandatory.
TikTok and Russian media dominate information
Information consumption in the region is heavily digitized and tilted toward non-Western sources. TikTok has emerged as the primary political information tool (61%), followed closely by YouTube and Facebook.
Television preferences further illustrate the cultural divide. While local station GRT leads with 63%, Russia’s 1TV remains a major source for 36% of the population. In contrast, Moldova’s national broadcaster, Moldova 1, reaches only 18% of the regional audience.
The study was conducted by ATES Research Group for Promo-LEX between March 14–18, 2026, interviewing 410 respondents across 20 localities with a 4.6% margin of error.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
