The referendum that is set to take place in Gagauzia on February 2 will be organized with money donated by the population. The press service of the autonomous unit’s executive committee told IPN’s correspondent that such a necessity appeared after the official budget operations connected with the organization of the plebiscite were blocked following a court decision.

A relevant request to the inhabitants of the region was made by the Governor of Gagauzia Mihail Formuzal. “Given the created situation and in order not to thwart the plans to organize the referendum and to avoid the institution of criminal proceedings against deputies of the People’s Assembly, I call on the residents of Gagauzia to contribute money to the organization of the legal and consultative referendum,” said the Gagauz leader.

When agreeing the autonomous unit’s budget for 2014, the deputies of the People’s Assembly included a chapter concerning the costs for organizing the referendum, of 940,000 lei.

As IPN reported earlier, the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia decided that the participants in the February 2 referendum will answer two questions: about the country’s external development course and about Gagauzia’s right to self-determination if Moldova loses its sovereignty. On January 3, the Comrat court nullified the given decision. Simultaneously, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Moldova started criminal cases against deputies of the People’s Assembly. But the region’s administration does not intend to give up its intentions.