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The Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, has taken a significant step in supporting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country by registering a draft law that proposes to recognize the Gagauz people as an indigenous people of Ukraine. The bill, initiated by five Servant of the People MPs led by Ruslan Horbenko, aims to extend the current list of recognized indigenous groups, which currently includes Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks. This move is seen as a significant development in upholding Ukraine’s cultural heritage and promoting the rights of minority groups.
The Gagauz people, numbering between 26,000 to 32,000, primarily reside in the southern Odesa Oblast and are a Turkic-speaking Orthodox Christian population. The proposed law would grant the Gagauz people enhanced cultural, linguistic, and educational rights, including access to Gagauz-language schooling. This move is intended to promote the preservation of Gagauz language and culture, which have been an integral part of Ukraine’s diverse cultural landscape.
The initiative gained significant momentum in recent months, with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressing his support for the step in October 2025. In a statement, Sybiha referred to the Gagauz people as an “important bridge” between Ukraine and the Turkic world, underscoring the significance of promoting cultural exchange and cooperation between the two regions.
The registration of the draft law marks a significant milestone in Ukraine’s efforts to promote the rights of minority groups and uphold cultural diversity. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of the Gagauz people, who have long been seeking recognition of their unique cultural identity.
While the proposed law has received widespread support, it is still in the drafting stage and requires further approval from parliament before it can be implemented. Nevertheless, the parliament’s decision to register the bill represents a significant step towards acknowledging and promoting the rights of the Gagauz people, highlighting Ukraine’s commitment to cultural diversity and minority rights.
The bill’s sponsors, led by MP Ruslan Horbenko, have expressed their optimism about the prospects of the law being passed. “We believe that this law will open up new opportunities for the Gagauz people to preserve their language and culture,” Horbenko noted in a statement. As the bill gains momentum, supporters of the Gagauz people are optimistic that this move will ultimately result in the recognition of their rights and the preservation of their cultural heritage.