Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's response to a media question about the first round of the gubernatorial elections in the Moldovan region of Gagauzia
2 May 2023 10:45
833-02-05-2023
Question: Elections for the Baskan (governor) of Gagausia took place on April 30. The first round did not produce a winner. Now, the second round is coming up. What can you say about this?
Maria Zakharova: We are carefully following the developments in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (ATUG) with which our country maintains close cultural, humanitarian, spiritual, trade, economic and interregional ties.
Russian representatives have always taken part in observing the gubernatorial elections in this region. Unfortunately, this time the Russian Embassy in Moldova was not granted this opportunity as distinct from the diplomatic missions of some other countries. The applications submitted to the Moldovan authorities were rejected.
Naturally, inviting international observers to take part in national or local elections is the domestic affair of any state. However, Moldova is a party to the Convention on the Standards of Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights and Freedoms in the CIS. As such, it has assumed a commitment to facilitate access for international observers to observe electoral processes below the national level, down to the municipal (local) level. The OSCE 1990 Copenhagen Declaration includes a similar commitment. The OSCE has repeatedly confirmed this in other documents. Thus, Chisinau has once again demonstrated its unfriendly approach towards Russia and its tendency towards double standards.
We are waiting for the second round of elections in the hope the voters will have a real opportunity to freely express their will. We also hope the new leaders of Gagauzia will continue developing traditional ties with our country and its regions.
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