GAGAUZ IDENTITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

This article attempts to cover up to a point the primary identity of Gagauz from the Republic of Moldova, whether it be ethnicity, language, religion or other elements. Theoretically, this investigation is based on the major theories on the identity of Erik Erikson, Peter Dahlgren, A. Touraine, S. Hall, Anthony D. Smith, etc. It is clear that on a smaller scale things are complicated later: for example, the Gagauz identity is differently perceived in the Republic of Moldova, than Russia or Ukraine. And Gagauz’s identity today cannot be extended to the past without collision with historical data.