Pro-Russian candidate elected governor of Gagauzia

Irina Vlakh has been elected as governor of Gagauzia, an autonomous entity in Moldova, according to Valentin Kara, the head of the Gagauzia Central Election Committee (CEC).

“By preliminary data based on the processing of some 95% of the ballot-papers, Vlakh received over 35,000 votes or 53.2% of total,” Kara said. Mayor of Gagauzia capital city Comrat Nikolay Dudoglo received over 12,000 votes or 18.2% of total. Valeriy Yanioglo, the former deputy bashkan (governor) comes the third with 5,000 votes (7.65%). The remaining seven candidates did not overcome the 5% threshold.

Gagauzia unlike the leadership of Moldova has been traditionally advocating for rapprochement with Russia and against integration with the EU. In February 2014, a nation-wide referendum in the territory of the autonomous region supported integration into the Customs Union with 98% of votes.