sentences:  The overall symbolism is debated, but the stars may represent the three Gagauz municipalities within Moldova.The tricolor is reminiscent of the Russian flag, which is also popular in Gagauzia; the issue has created friction between Gagauz and Moldovan politicians.While the emergence of Gagauz nationalism dates back to the 1900s, when it opposed Tsarist autocracy, separate symbols for the Gagauz people and their territory are comparatively new.