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• Observers representing the League for the Protection of Human Rights in Moldova and the Gagauz non-governmental organisation Piligrim-Demo have been selected and trained to monitor the elections. They have already signalled a shortage of funds for the organisation of elections and passiveness of the electoral campaign, which may encourage a low turnout of electors. (According to Moldavskie Vedomosti newspaper)

• The Russian Foreign Ministry released a communication on March 4, being puzzled over actions by Moldovan authorities, who recommended the cancellation of humanitarian aid for Gagauzia. The Russian ministry noted that it had plans to send the aid in early March, as Gagauzia is a region of Moldova which was seriously hit by the 2007 summer drought. Although they have given green light at the beginning, Moldovan authorities recalled their authorisation for 2 Russian aircraft to carry the humanitarian aid to Chisinau and proposed the cancellation of this shipment. The media explained that central authorities want to prevent the use of this situation for the electoral campaign for the elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia.

• Valerii Klimenco, chairman of the Ravnopravie Movement, told a March 5 news conference that the refusal of Moldovan authorities to receive the humanitarian aid for Gagauzia may strain again the Moldovan-Russian relations. Klimenco noted that the Moldovan Government has executed indications by President Vladimir Voronin and refused the Russian humanitarian aid because it could be used in favour of Mihail Formuzal before the elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. The Ravnopravie leader described the actions by central authorities as pressures on Gagauz governor and his team, making analogy with the obstruction of Chisinau local authorities to do their work. (According to INFOTAG)