site.btaFirst Bulgarian University Abroad Inaugurated in Moldova

The first stand-alone Bulgarian university abroad was inaugurated in Taraclia, Moldova on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry in Sofia said in a press release. The new educational institution was established after the Gregory Tsamblak State University of Taraclia was converted into a branch of the Angel Kanchev University of Ruse, Bulgaria. The inauguration came on Alphabet Day, the most important cultural holiday of the Bulgarians at home and abroad. Taraclia is the centre of the Bulgarian community in Moldova.

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and his Moldovan counterpart Mihai Popsoi were at the ceremony. Georgiev started a two-day working visit to Moldova earlier on Saturday.

He paid a floral tribute at a plaque commemorating the Bulgarian brothers St Cyril and St Methodius, who created the earliest Slav alphabet in the 9th century. He attended observances of Alphabet Day.

Addressing the local Bulgarian community, Foreign Minister Georgiev said this is a historic day for Taraclia and for Bulgarians in Moldova. The new university will provide quality education meeting the highest European standards. It will strengthen Taraclia’s status as a cultural and intellectual hub of the Bulgarian identity in Moldova.

In 2024, the authorities of Moldova gave the green light to converting Gregory Tsamblak State University into a branch of the University of Ruse. The branch was registered in accordance with Moldovan law on April 2, 2025. It shows that Moldova’s European integration is a strong positive factor for the country’s dialogue with Bulgaria and the protection of the ethnic and cultural rights of the Bulgarian minority in Moldova, particularly in the field of education, the press release said.

During his visit, Foreign Minister Georgiev met with members of the town administration and mayors of settlements in Taraclia District. They discussed key aspects of cooperation with Bulgaria and support from Sofia for socially significant projects with high added value for the Bulgarian minority.

In Taraclia District, there are 24 villages and two towns (Taraclia and Tvardita) with a compact Bulgarian population accounting for more than half of the total population in each place. Across the district, ethnic Bulgarians are 66.1% of the total population.