On 29 April 2026, the International Conference entitled ‘Preservation, Development, and Promotion of the Gagauz Language in the Multilingual Environment of the Republic of Moldova’ was held in Chișinău at the Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University. The conference aimed to create a platform for dialogue between representatives of the educational, institutional and academic sectors and civil society, to facilitate the exchange of best practices and to formulate strategic directions for the protection, revival and promotion of the Gagauz language.
The event brought together over 100 participants – researchers, lecturers, experts in the field of language policy, representatives of government bodies and international organisations, as well as experts from Germany, Italy and Kazakhstan. The conference was held in Romanian, Gagauz, Russian and English and included plenary sessions and thematic panel discussions on education, language policy and models of multilingual education.
“I welcome the fact that today’s event aims to create a platform for dialogue between representatives of the educational, institutional and academic sectors and civil society, with a view to finding concrete and sustainable solutions for the revival of the Gagauz language,” said Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova.
“It is our responsibility to continue these efforts – not only to preserve the Gagauz language, but also to make it relevant and appealing to children and young people. A language is alive when it is used confidently every day,” emphasised Dan Perciun, Minister of Education and Research.
The discussions focused on analysing the sociolinguistic situation of the Gagauz language; identifying the main challenges associated with preserving the language and passing it on to future generations; drawing on leading international practices in the field of minority language revitalisation; and developing strategic directions and practical measures to support the Gagauz language.
“From the perspective of CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, promoting the Gagauz language is not only a cultural priority but also a direct investment in social cohesion, strengthening dialogue and the democratic development of the Republic of Moldova,” said CMI Country Manager Natalia Djandjgava.
The conference featured the presentation of preliminary findings from a sociolinguistic study on the current state of the Gagauz language, as well as recent examples of how digital technologies are being used to promote linguistic and cultural heritage.
“Today, information technology allows us to be part of the wider world and, above all, to support the Gagauz diaspora living in various countries around the world. We need a great many new modern tools, media resources, and interactive formats to ensure they are both interesting and useful,” said Irina Konstantinova, Director of the M. V. Marunevich Research Centre of Gagauzia.
The event also featured an exhibition entitled ‘Gagauzia: Identity and People’, dedicated to the cultural heritage and contributions of the Gagauz community.
The conference concluded with the formulation of a series of recommendations aimed at developing public policy in the field of education and the protection of minority languages. Its outcomes will help to strengthen cooperation between institutions and to develop a coordinated set of measures to support the Gagauz language in accordance with European and international standards.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova in cooperation with academic institutions and the authorities of Gagauzia, with the support of the CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation and Sweden.
