Nineteen of the 20 deputies attending the meeting of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia in the evening of November 15 adopted a censure motion against the local executive committee headed by Governor Mihail Formuzal. The post will be held on an interim basis by Irina Zelenskaya, who heads the Justice Department of Gagauzia.

Contacted by IPN, the chairman of the People’s Assembly Dmitri Constantinov said that a referendum will be held in 30 days, where the people will decide whether Mihail Formuzal should keep the post of Governor or should leave. 50% + 1% of the vote are needed for removing Formuzal. The Governor can appeal the decision of the People’s Assembly to court, if he does not agree with it.

According to Dmitri Constantinov, the vote of no confidence was given because eight months ago the deputies of the People’s Assembly requested the Governor to offer explanations and solutions to a number of identified problems, but he didn’t do it.