The head of the Democratic Action Party (PAD) Mihai Godea urged the residents of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia to ignore the local referendums set for February 2. He considers that the plebiscite results will be used for political blackmail to the detriment of all the Moldovans, IPN reports.
“Gagauzia is part of Moldova to good and to bad, no matter what some politicians say. If this referendum makes the Gagauz people to feel freer and more autonomous, I do not want to disappoint them. This referendum wouldn’t have been possible without the consent of Chisinau. Dear people, the ruling oligarchs use you as they need a pretext to show why the reforms are delayed. It’s easier for them to point to Comrat rather than to explain to the Europeans why Moldova continues to be affected by corruption after four years of reforms,” Mihai Godea said in a news conference.
He added that the residents of Gagauzia should not become instruments for blackmail in the hands of the Moldovan oligarchs. “I invite them to ask themselves: What forces supported the ascension of Governor Mihail Formuzal and the registration of his party in only two weeks? Who supported the majority in the People’s Assembly? Two large ruling parties control the affairs in Gagauzia,” said the leader of the PAD.
Mihai Godea also referred to the half a million lei provided by businessman Renato Usatyi for holding the plebiscites. “We see who finances these initiatives that were declared illegal. These personages consider themselves emissaries of the Kremlin. The February 2 referendum is not recognized at national and international levels. Its results will be used for political blackmail. Dear citizens from Gagauzia, I call on you to ignore this referendum,” he stated.
Last November, the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia decided to hold a legislative referendum on the Gagauz people’s right to self-determination and a consultative referendum with two questions: on Moldova joining the Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan Customs Union and on Moldova joining the European Union. The Comrat Court annulled the given decisions.
