These comments on the Law of Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit on Election of Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri) were prepared on the basis of a recommendation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe that monitored the election of the Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia (Moldova) held on 3 and 17 December 2006. The Monitoring mission of the Congress concluded that some irregularities it found in the election of governor of Gagauzia in December 2006 might have derived from the Gagauz election law. The Congress therefore requested the Venice Commission to examine this Law and to establish whether it is in compliance with international standards in order to pre-empt possible irregularities from appearing in the forthcoming local elections in Gagauzia.
