The Life and History of Moldova’s Autonomous Region of Gagauzia

Across the Balkans takes you to the northeastern edge of the Balkan peninsula, to Moldova’s autonomous region of Gagauzia, home to the Gagauz people. They're a small Turkic minority group, and speak a language close to Turkish. Their rights and autonomy are protected by Moldova's constitution, but their tiny region is caught between Russia, the EU and Turkey, all vying for influence. TRT World Correspondent Andrew Hopkins explains.
Across The Balkans, hosted by Nafisa Latic, is TRT World’s programme that focuses specifically on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
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[@yasintokat2268]

It does not matter how many kilometers they are away from Turkey. Gagauz will always be closest to Turkish people no matter what!.

[@yo2trader539]

Turkey is the country that is so far away from Turkic homeland in South Siberia and Mongolia.

[@teovu5557]

@@yo2trader539 altay dag!

[@josephstalin1623]

Gagauz are Christians orthodox like Slavs and Romanians. But they want autonomy Actually Gagauz are a mix of turkic tribes from Pontic caspian steppe

[@abhilashpaul9237]

Yes, they are our Christian brethren.

[@teovu5557]

maybe Cumans as they have surnames like Kipcakli and Terteroba and also Olasoba etc

[@aaronn123]

@@abhilashpaul9237shut up

[@munirayussuf3575]

amazing video

[@Tullzter]

Nice looking landscapes

[@shahinasgarov597]

I don't care what religion they believe in. They are oghuz turks and our brothers 🇦🇿

[@jorgeeusebio8738]

There's only 1 god,the important thing is to make a change for the good in this world 🌎

[@abhilashpaul9237]

They are our Christian brethren.

[@cupsaiasmina2037]

@@abhilashpaul9237 yes, they are our brothers in Our Lord Jesus Christ and brothers of Christ.

[@abhilashpaul9237]

@@cupsaiasmina2037 yes. Amen.

[@cupsaiasmina2037]

@@abhilashpaul9237 Amen

[@daenerysmax6267]

Her last name is literally Vlah and she doesn't speak Romanian? Edit: I think she does actually understand it and she seems quite progressive

[@fuguthefish]

She is a tool of Russia

[@janatamann5623]

Well actually these Gagauz nation has nothing to do with Russia! They have no border with Russia.Those people are ethnically Turkic tribe ,close to people of modern day Turkey, but their religion is orthodox christianity. That’s all. Their mother tongue is not Russian but Gagauzi language! They were forced to speak Russian under Soviet Union and their native language were banned by the communist soviet authorities! This is why most of them are fluent in Russian language today. Sorry to say that but nobody wants to be part of Russia which is an awful state to live in...

[@abhilashpaul9237]

They are our Christians brethren. Bottomline that's what matters.

[@harryp6484]

Correct. The corrupt evil Russians only seek to exploit the Gagauz to destabilise Europe. They don’t care for them.

[@stoicaflorin9947]

Primul cuvânt a fost in limba română Bine ați venit Welcome

[@abhilashpaul9237]

They are Christians, we Christians cherish our Christian brethren of Gagauzia. ☦️✝️💕💕

[@mustafahassan6356]

Great to see more Christians among ethnicities which are considered 'islamic'. I am also a Christian, however in comparison tot he people from the video, I changed my religion to christianity from islam.

[@compassion333]

And are you practicing ? Why have you converted to Christianity ?

[@abhilashpaul9237]

Amen to you brother. May God's blessings will be upon you and your family.

[@abhilashpaul9237]

@@compassion333 he reverted back to Christianity because Islam is false. Follow the True God. 👍🏻

[@arolemaprarath6615]

@@compassion333 coz Islam is backward

[@aaronn123]

the Turkic ethnicity is NOT considered Islamic!

[@akrammajidkhan9860]

Alhamdulillah !!

[@akrammajidkhan9860]

@@punarbasunath7730 Waaliaka.

[@amaanhussainkadami3375]

@@punarbasunath7730 what is there to laugh

[@mbugrahankilic]

+1

[@pedrocavalcante5822]

I am here because of Russia's latest geopolitical movements around this autonomous region. I would like to know if they are pro-Russian or not?

[@TranceElevation]

Yes there are. The most pro-russian people in Europe, even more pro-russian than Bulgarians.

[@pault3157]

I’m a gagauzian and my parents moved from Komrat, the capital of Gagauzia, I can say that we definitely don’t want to go to Romania and are more inclined for independence. The reason why there is a Turkish cultured people in Moldavia is because they were being persecuted for being Christian at that time and fled Muslim Turkey. That’s just some history from a real gagauzian

[@jorgeeusebio8738]

Hello Christian ✝️ brother greetings from portugal 🇵🇹

[@compassion333]

I was wondering why gagauzian language have islamic words like Allah selam hayirli olsun etc.. the fact that they escaped persecution from Turkey explains it.

[@ems7623]

I respect the Gagauzian instinct for indepedence. Certainly Moldova is too poor and unstable to have done much to help Gagauzians become more prosperous. I think you'll find that many people around the world are very surprised to hear that Gagauzians are often loyal to Russia, however. Is this simply a response to Moldovan politics since 1991? I ask only because it seems fairly obvious that Gagauzia would be welcomed in words by Putin, but Putin's Russia is a autocratic state with a fragile economy, many enemies, no civil liberties or freedoms and only propaganda instead of a free press. In the EU, however, there is prosperity, security, civil rights protections, a respect for cultural and linguistic diversity, and economic development programs that could benefit Gagauzians so much more than anything Russia would do. Perhaps the best future would be an independent Gagauzia microstate which is also an EU member - like Malta or Luxembourg? It is possible that Romania would help Gagauzia attain this, if Moldova were to also join the EU (or be annexed to Romania). But Gagausians should begin engaging in diplomatic relations with Bucharest and Brussels if they wish for such indepdendence.

[@canaygibi8924]

Gagauz means Gök Ouz. Gok presents Gok Tengri (Sky God), and Oğuz is the name of Turkic tribe; thus, Gagauz people are one and the same people with the Turks in Anatolia, Oghuz Turks. You keep writing the same misinformation here and there.

[@highwolt4179]

Dude you are like in every single video about gagauz people and could you stop giving misinformation to the people?

[@aramo99]

What are generous turkey I hope one day they will show this generosity to Kurds

[@user-mg2ip8cr8z]

and all so admit there crimes against Armenian and Greek indigenous peoples of Anatolia and Cyprus and stop destroying Yazidi people in Syria

[@sowdha79]

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[@jorgeeusebio8738]

What's this got to do with garguzia

[@againstviralmisinformation510]

They need independence!!!!

[@Vlady_Daddy]

they need Romania

[@klaus6740]

Moldova is not balkan 😂 what the hell

[@sofietta3814]

yes it is especially gagauzia

[@papapeethehunks]

There is no such thing as "help" in geopolitics. It's aptly called "influence."

[@muzaffer4045]

We're brothers with them so it's not about influence and never was.

[@papapeethehunks]

@@muzaffer4045 Erdogan is a politician. Who are you kidding? 😂 The Gagauz maybe Turkic too but they're Christians and very much located in continental Europe unlike Turkey on the periphery so stop amusing yourself. It has always been a competition on soft power and it's called influence.

[@metehankanmaz8805]

@@papapeethehunksTheir Christianity is not important. They are Turkic, end of story.

[@arizahmed5299]

Why do Turks glorify Attaturk?

[@mathwgames5484]

Simply thanks to his military skills Anatolia is still in the hands of Turks. The Sultan surrendered to allied forces due to loss in WWI. There were no food, no weapons, no communication centres, no Army after the WWI. He built everyting again and saved the Anatolia and brought democracy instead of monarchy to Turks. I recommend you to watch 'Blood & Oil: Greco - Turkish War in youtube'. The narrator calls him as 'Kamal'.

[@orhandemir989]

@@mathwgames5484 bs

[@orhandemir989]

A little minority maybe yes, but majority don’t

[@arizahmed5299]

@@orhandemir989 hope so

[@orhandemir989]

@@arizahmed5299 only brainwashed sheep 🐑 do believe me

[@josephstalin1623]

Gaugauzes Turkic. Not Turks Turkic and turks are different. Stop misusing this

[@metehankanmaz8805]

They are Turks.

[@micha01.]

They are Christian Turkish.

[@kimkardashiansdaddy2744]

Turks are Turks, try again communist troll

[@teovu5557]

Turkish=Turkey people, Turkic refers to ALL Turkic groups and Turk is neutral and can refer to any turkic persons..... You welcome

[@arolemaprarath6615]

Anatolian Turks are persianised and arabised Turks while Gagauzian are real Turks.

[@user-mg2ip8cr8z]

turkey has a system that helps people regardless of ethnicity or religion ??? except if your a Kurd - Yazidi or Armenian or Greek .

[@saddamhussein1847]

Gaugazia Should Break Away from Moldova and Join Russia.

[@nichiforalbu9035]

Just by moving in Southern Siberia true Turkis land, Southern Basarabia is Dacian Land

[@mimisor66]

Grab a map and see they have no borders with Russia

[@mimisor66]

Grab a map and see they have no borders with Russia

[@stuart4341]

This did not age well lol

[@loliatti7104]

Lol they not even have a common border to begin with