---
title: "Pro-Russian socialist enters race for Gagauzia governor"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/86386/pro-russian-socialist-enters-race-for-gagauzia-governor
published: 2026-10-02T11:23:32Z
language: en
author: "Ana Cebotari"
section: "Elections"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Pro-Russian socialist enters race for Gagauzia governor

> Gagauzia's election authority officially registered former lawmaker Fiodor Gagauz on Thursday as the first certified candidate for governor ahead of the autonomous region's vote scheduled for November 15.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/25119122-00b0-4501-9078-450fc605fa05.jpg)

Gagauzia's election authority officially registered former lawmaker Fiodor Gagauz on Thursday as the first certified candidate for governor ahead of the autonomous region's vote scheduled for November 15.

Gagauz, running on behalf of the pro-Russian Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), secured ballot access following a unanimous decision by the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia (CECG). The electoral authority confirmed that his filing fulfilled all legal requirements under regional election legislation.

*“Through Decision No. 26 of October 1, 2026, the CECG registered Fiodor Gagauz as a candidate for the position of Bashkan of Gagauzia,”* the Comrat-based electoral authority said in an official statement.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/a2f2869f-08bc-47df-89a7-c06f91d39a37.jpg)

**Political background and ties to Moscow**

Gagauz, 67, is a jurist and former police colonel who previously served in Gagauzia's People's Assembly and headed the regional internal affairs department before lecturing at Comrat State University. He later served multiple terms in Moldova's national parliament within the Socialist and Communist factions.

In 2014, Gagauz actively supported an unconstitutional regional referendum that favored joining the Russia-led Customs Union and asserted Gagauzia's right to external self-determination. The vote coincided with Moscow's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula under a similar playbook.

Through his civic movement "Edinaya Gagauziya", Gagauz continues to advocate for transforming Moldova into a federation granting constitutional subject status to both Gagauzia and the breakaway region on the left bank of the Dniester—a geopolitical model long promoted by the Kremlin. Investigative reports also revealed that he petitioned Moscow officials in 2014 and 2015 for over 1.2 million Russian rubles (approx. €18,000) to fund church property imports exempted from customs duties.

**Expanding field of candidates**

Six independent hopefuls and two party nominees have submitted documentation ahead of the October 6 registration deadline. The independent contenders include Alexandr Stoianoglo, Cornel Dudnic, Petru Vlah, Oleg Garizan, Ivanna Koksal, and Sergei Anastasov.

Ivan Cîlcic, nominated by the Gagauz Popular Party, is also seeking ballot access alongside Gagauz. Election officials are currently validating signature sheets for five independent candidates before formal certification.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/1d038928-5cf6-4c2a-b050-f39fdb7ba470.jpg)

***
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