BTA: Bulgarian Language and Cultural Centre Opens in Gagauzia’s Comrat State University

A Bulgarian Language and Cultural Centre was inaugurated Monday at the Autonomous Territorial Unit (ATU) Gagauzia’s Comrat State University by Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Moldova Maya Dobreva. She cut the ribbon together with Moldova’s Education Minister Dan Perciun, Comrat State University Rector Serghei Zaharia, Director of the Association for the Development of the Bulgarian Community in Moldova and Administrative Director of the Ruse University branch in Taraclia, Alexander Borimecicov.

The Centre is designed to promote Bulgarian cultural and linguistic heritage in ATU Gagauzia. It was established by ADBCM and financed through additional funding from Bulgaria’s state budget allocated to support the Bulgarian community in Moldova. According to the Ministry, the Centre will serve as an open space for learning Bulgarian, promoting the community’s history and traditions, and implementing academic, cultural and educational projects.

Ambassador Dobreva stated that it was an honour to attend the opening of the Centre, which she described as “a symbol of the deep historical ties and friendship between Bulgarians and Gagauzians.” She expressed confidence that the Centre would become “a vibrant space for dialogue, knowledge and cooperation” between the two peoples.

Minister Perciun noted that opening the Centre in Comrat was an important step in strengthening the cultural and linguistic identity of the Bulgarian community and in deepening intercultural dialogue in the region. “Providing young people with real opportunities to study, collaborate and develop in an open and multicultural environment is essential,” he added, as quoted by the Moldovan Education Ministry.

Rector Zaharia welcomed the creation of the Centre at Comrat State University, emphasizing that Gagauzians and Bulgarians share a tradition of cooperation. “We must develop our languages and our culture, and today’s event is a good example of our partnership,” he said, as reported by the local public broadcaster GRT.

Bulgarian is currently taught in eight schools across ATU Gagauzia, with approximately 1,000 students studying the language. The Centre is equipped with modern multimedia technology, furniture, specialized teaching materials in Bulgarian language, culture and history, and other resources necessary for its effective operation. The project’s total budget is approximately BGN 38,000 (MDL 380,000).

ATU Gagauzia is an administrative autonomy within the Republic of Moldova. It has its own legislative body, the People’s Assembly, and an executive authority headed by the Bashkan. The administrative centre is the city of Comrat. The autonomy was created to safeguard the cultural, linguistic and political rights of the Gagauz people and enjoys a special legal status providing substantial self-governance.

As of 2024, the population of ATU Gagauzia totals 103,668. Gagauzians account for roughly 82–83% of residents, with the remainder consisting of Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians, Bulgarians and other groups. The Bulgarian community, though relatively small, is historically established and represents around 5% of the region’s population.