Ukrainian parliament registers bill recognising Gagauz as indigenous people

A draft law recognising the Gagauz as an indigenous people of Ukraine has been registered in the country’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.

According to information published on the parliament’s website, the bill was registered on May 8, 2026, under number 15223.

The text of the proposed legislation has not yet been made publicly available, Ukrainian media reports.

The Gagauz community in Ukraine is concentrated mainly in the Odesa region. The Gagauz are a Turkic-speaking people who traditionally practice Orthodox Christianity.

The Gagauz community as an important cultural link between Ukraine and the Turkic world, particularly with Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

By Sabina Mammadli