Moldova/ 4.2 Recent policy issues and debates  

4.2.1 Cultural minorities, groups and communities

According to the 2004 census, Moldovans represent 78.2% of the total of population of 3.39 million. The census indicates a dramatic decrease of population numbers in Moldova - from 4.5 million in 1989 to 3.39 million in 2004. This is mainly due to the fact that the separatist region of Transnistria did not participate in the latest census. Furthermore, official statistics show that over 600 000 citizens left the country to seek employment abroad.

There are 18 minority groups in the country. The four largest are Ukrainians, Russians, Bulgarians and Gagauz.

Table 1:     Largest minority groups in Moldova, 1989 and 2004 census figures

Source:  National Office for Statistic, 2006.

Note:      The category "other" comprises Jews, Belarussians, Poles, Germans, Roma, Greeks, Lithuanians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Chuvash, Italians, Koreans, Uzbeks and Georgians. They have a variety of institutions operating as communities (11), societies (14), unions (2), centres (4), associations (4) and foundations (4).

There are 78 ethnical-cultural groups in the regions and towns of Chisinau, Soroca, Bălţi, Orhei, Cahul, Comrat, Bender, Ceadir Lunga, Vulcanesti, Ocnita, Taraclia and Tiraspol which play a part in preserving and developing national traditions as well as the mother tongue and cultural traditions of their respective minority communities. In recent years, representatives of Ukrainians, Russians, Bulgarians, Belarussians, Germans, Azerbaijanis, Armenians and Georgians have set up national communities, representing organisations of a social, cultural and humanitarian nature. These communities do not limit themselves to purely cultural activities. They protect the civil, economic, social and religious rights of their members. They also play a co-ordinating role, among all the public organisations, for their respective minorities and have been empowered to speak on their behalf and represent their interests. The status of these communities allows them to raise money to fund their statutory activities, and offer financial support to their members.

In accordance with the principle of equality and universality enshrined in legislation, ethnic minorities are able to pursue their own culture and practice traditional arts.

In the 1990s, a sub-system of cultural institutions for ethnic minorities was set up, based in the state library, museum and theatre network. In Chisinau (the capital city of Moldova), there are 6 libraries for ethnic minorities and also the Russian State Theatre Company "A. P. Cehov". The first Gagauz theatre company was created in Comrat and the first Bulgarian theatre company now operates in Taraclia.

In Moldova, there are special training programmes for teachers in schools and kindergartens in the languages spoken by ethnic minorities. During the last decade, the Comrat State University and the Comrat Pedagogical College, the Pedagogical College in Taraclia and the Subsidiary of the Music College "Stefan Neaga" in Tvardita were established. In addition to the large network of schools with teaching in Russian, Ukrainian is taught in 71 schools, Gagauz in 49 schools and Bulgarian in 27 schools. Belorussian, Lithuanian, Greek, Georgian, Armenian, and German children learn their mother tongue and culture in Sunday schools set up by ethno-cultural societies.

Within the "Teleradio-Moldova" company, two special departments were set up to broadcast in minority languages - "Comunitate" and "Radio-Moldova International". Their programmes make up about 40% of all programmes (24.9% in Russian; 14.8% in Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Gagauz, Polish, Yiddish, and Romaic). In Balti, Edinet, Ceadir Lunga, Vulcanesti, Ocnita, Briceni, Soroca and Comrat, TV and radio stations regularly broadcast programmes in Gagauz, Bulgarian and Ukrainian.

Almost half of the total production (according to 2005 statistics - 44.7%) of the publishing sector in Moldova - books, newspapers, magazines - is in Russian.

The main instruments regulating the status of ethnic minorities are:

• the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, adopted on 29 July 1994;
• the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Moldova of 27 August 1991;
• the Law of the Republic of Moldova on the functioning of the languages spoken in the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic of the 31 August 1989;
• the Decisions of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on application of the language legislation (1 September 1989);
• the Declaration of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova on the legal status of individuals belonging to ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities, in the context of the armed conflict in Transnistria (26 May 1992);
• the Law on Citizenship modified by the Law on Dual Citizenship on June 2003;
• the Law on Religions of 24 March 1992;
• the series of Laws and Decisions on the Legal Status of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia;
• the Law on Education of 9 March 1995;
• the Concept of Educational Development in the Republic of Moldova (February1996);
• the Law on Public Associations of 10 January 1997;
• the Law on the Territorial Organisation of the Republic of Moldova, No. 191-XIV of 12 November 1998 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, 1998, No. 116-118, Article705). In May 2003 10 counties that were set up in application of this law were changed with the same 32 former districts; and
• the Law on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Minorities and the Legal Status of their Organisations of 19 August 2001

The Moldovan Parliament ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities on 22 October 1996.

The State Department for Inter-Ethnical Relations (formerly State Department for National Relations and Linguistic Affairs), set up in 1990, performs a consultative and harmonising role with Moldova's minorities. The House of Nationalities is a methodological centre under the Department for Inter-Ethnical Relations that sustains and develops the ethnic cultures of all nationalities living in Moldova. It co-ordinates and organises national cultural and educational programmes.