A nongovernmental rally was held in Comrat on November 24. The participants said that they were "masters there" and forbade the ministers to visit ATU Gagauzia". Also, the idea of "recreating the Republic of Gagauzia" was brought back during the event, IPN's correspondent in Comrat reported.
The rally was staged in connection with the searches targeting the Bashkan’s deputy Ilia Uzun and the detention of the adviser to the Bashkan Mikhail Vlah. These actions were presented at the rally as "a fight against the opposition" and as "repression" against the Gagauz people.
The rally, to which people were brought by bus, was organized by Mikhail Vlah himself. Several hundred people gathered together and separatist statements were made during the event.
"The creation of the Republic (Gagauzia) should not have been abandoned. I will request today, together with you, to address the Bashkan, to address the People's Assembly, the Congress of Deputies of all levels to return to this issue," said activist from Congaz Ivan Bessarab, who is close to Yevgenia Guțul's team.
The participants in the event reminded that at the 2014 "referendum" (Chisinau did not recognize it), the Gagauz voted in favor of the eastern course of development of the Republic of Moldova
"The Gagauz people confirmed again the results of that vote of 2014 and voted 95% against the absorption by the EU of our dear Moldova," said Mikhail Vlah.
At the same time, according to Vlah, 97% of the electors in the autumn elections voted against the current government, which, in his opinion, humiliates the Gagauz people. The people of Gagauzia, said Vlah, also spoke out against "breaking the relations with Russia".
Ilia Uzun commented on the searches that targeted him recently. He said he is persecuted for his criticism of the government.
"I work honestly, in accordance with the law, but throughout my life, every government in Chisinau tries to subdue me. Why? Because they don't like it when I tell the people the truth," said Uzun.
The organizers said that no minister from Chisinau should come to ATU Gagauzia. A resolution adopted at the rally called for the convening of a special meeting of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia, at which "the actions of the Moldovan authorities should be condemned".
On the morning of November 8, Mikhail Vlah published a message on Facebook, saying that Maia Sandu and Igor Dodon "must be killed" («нужно убивать»). The police detained him for 72 hours. Vlah claims that there was a typo in the post and that he wanted to write "remove"(«убирать»).
On November 21, searches were carried out at Ilia Uzun's home, but also in the chain of PECO stations, which his wife owns. The police seized oil products and money, the origin of which could not be explained by the company's administrator. At some gas stations, fuels were sold without a license, according to police reports.
