The Comrat Election Commission until January 26 registered eight candidates for the post of Bashkan (Governor) of Gagauzia. The eighth candidates’ preliminary number of order in the ballot was decided as a result of a draw. The candidates are registered based on lists of signatures in their support. Signatures can be collected until February 19.

The Commission’s head Valentin Cara has told IPN that 13 initiative groups have been registered so far. Eight of them have already submitted the documents required for registering the candidates and the members of the Commission are to examine them and the signatures.

If the submitted documents meet the conditions, Valerii Ianioglo will be under No. 1 in the ballot. He will be followed by Sergei Buzadji, Ruslan Garbaly, Nicolae Dudoglo, Oleg Caicy, Irina Vlah, Oleg Garizan, and Alexandru Stoianoglo.

The candidates for the post of Governor of Gagauzia can be fielded not later than 30 days before the election day.

The first round of elections in Gagauzia will be held on March 22. The second round, if necessary, will take place on April 5.