Politician Petr Vlah announced today, during a briefing, that he intends to run for the position of Bashkan of Gagauzia in the elections scheduled for November 15 this year, TRIBUNA reports.

“I am ethnic Gagauz, and that is why what is happening with the Gagauz Autonomy concerns me deeply. I cannot remain indifferent when I see the games being played around the Autonomy, when I see narrow interests being promoted that have nothing to do with the interests of Gagauzia and its residents.

Today, some politicians view Gagauzia as a trophy, while the elections scheduled for November 15, 2026, are seen as a way to take possession of that trophy. This is unacceptable because, in my view, elections should be about solutions to the problems facing the Gagauz people and the Autonomy as a whole, about development projects and the future, not about political games and narrow interests. All those who have already begun playing political games involving Gagauzia are thereby showing a lack of respect for the Gagauz people and for the Autonomy as a whole. Today, we see some trying to solve their personal problems by using Gagauzia as a bargaining chip in their secret deals. Others are trying to improve their relations with decision-makers outside the region, again using Gagauzia as a bargaining chip. This is an unprecedented situation—never before have there been so many obscure interests surrounding Gagauzia and so many political adventurers eager to use the Autonomy and its residents for personal purposes!” he said.

The former MP said that these painful issues needed to be raised before the official start of the electoral campaign and that, “unfortunately, some politicians see and know what is happening but prefer to remain silent, and this is serious. Silence means encouraging political adventurers and even complicity in implementing the ugly games being played around Gagauzia.”

“I am in constant contact with residents of the Gagauz Autonomy and can state with full knowledge of the situation that people understand what is happening. They know very well what lies behind some politicians’ beautiful statements about Gagauzia. They know who has what interests in reality. People are already talking about it, and they should be encouraged to continue discussing these issues of utmost importance. Because only in this way can political adventurers be stopped! Only in this way can the elections be about solutions, visions, projects, plans and development, rather than political games.

At present, many Gagauz people view the upcoming elections with skepticism and apathy. They say they see no point in participating in the elections because there is a high risk that certain politicians will draw them into the hidden games they are playing. People do not want to become accomplices, even indirectly, in plans to take control of Gagauzia by individuals whose interests differ from those related to the development of the Autonomy. And here, it matters less whom these individuals intend to hand Gagauzia over to—politicians in Chisinau or forces from outside. What truly matters, and it is very important that we all understand this, is that we must not allow the elections to become a reckoning between those seeking to take control of Gagauzia,” he added.

Petr Vlah stated that he will run for the position of Bashkan of Gagauzia, with a firm intention to expose all the false patriots and all the adventurers playing games around Gagauzia and seeking to use the Autonomy as a bargaining chip to advance their narrow interests.

“I am also entering these elections to tell the residents of the Autonomy the truth about the situation that has developed, so that people can make the most informed and conscious choice possible. I am entering these elections with the firm intention of turning the election into a competition of solutions, programs and ideas for the development of the region, as it should naturally be.

By intending to run, I want to offer the Gagauz people a genuine alternative to all the adventurers who want to turn these elections and the Autonomy as a whole into an instrument for satisfying personal interests. I will stand together with the residents of the Autonomy, and together we will expose everyone who has hidden interests related to Gagauzia. And I am certain that together we will succeed in ridding Gagauzia of false friends who profess their love for the Autonomy, but do so only with the approval of the masters they serve.

Gagauzia and the Gagauz people deserve respect and a genuine opportunity to live in democracy and prosperity. And I will do everything to make this a reality!” the politician added.