The Prosecutor-General's Office in Moldova has launched an investigation into plans of the country's autonomous region of Gagauzia, home to a Turkic people, to hold referendum next month.



The prosecutor's press-service said on January 9 that investigations had been launched into the Gagauz National Assembly's "illegal decision" to hold the referendum.



The idea to hold the referendum had been earlier rejected by a court in Gagauzia as unconstitutional.



The referendum aims to establish Gagauzia's right to separate from Moldova if it lost its statehood.



Last month, Gagauzia's National Assembly adopted a new Electoral Code that they hope will legally allow a referendum to be held on February 2.



In neighboring Romania last week, President Traian Basescu's statement on the possible unification of Moldova and Romania caused harsh criticism both in Chisinau and Bucharest.



Based on reporting Moldovanews.ru and ITAR-TASS