Congaz

For the settlement formerly known as Kongaz (now Rândunica), see Mihail Kogălniceanu, Tulcea.

Congaz Kongaz
Commune
Congaz House of Culture
Congaz Location of Congaz in Moldova
Coordinates: 46°06′30″N 28°35′50″E
Country	Moldova
Autonomous Region	Gagauzia
Founded	1811
Government
• Mayor	Yesir Mikhail (Revival party)
Population  (2024)
• Total	8,269
Ethnicity (2024 census)
• Gagauz people	95.44%
• Moldovans	1.57%
• other	2.99%
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
Climate	Cfb
Website	congaz.md

Congaz (Gagauz: Kongaz) is a commune and village in the Comrat district, Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. It is the largest village in Gagauzia, with a population of around 8,269, 7,892 (95.44%) of which being Gagauz.

History

Name of the village is assumed to have a Turkic toponym. It has been considered to be a combination of Kon - "to sit" and kaz/kaaz - goose in Gagauz. This is thought to be derived from a legend, the present-day area of the village supposedly being a resting site for geese.

During the bronze age, a settlement existed 3km from the present-day village, in an area which is now called Kara-Su. The settlement was found by archeologists in 2012, during excavations ceramics and ornaments have been found.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Congaz is twinned with:

• Vynohradivka, Bolhrad Raion, Ukraine;
• Selçuklu, Turkey;

Notable people

People from Congaz include these individuals:

• Demian Caraseni (born 1966), Gagauz-Moldovan politician
• Zinovia Dushkova (born 1953), Russian author and historian
• Stepan Esir (born 1950), Gagauz politician
• Mihail Kendighelean (born 1941), Gagauz-Moldovan politician
• Anatoli Laiba (1954–2016), Russian geologist
• Daniil Stadnikov (1851–1927), figure in the Bulgarian revival in Macedonia
• Oleksandr Tkachenko (born 1984), Ukrainian politician
• Todur Zanet (born 1958), Gagauz journalist, folklorist and poet
• Gavril Zanetov (1874–1934), Bulgarian-Gagauz lawyer and historian