Tsarist autocracy
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. Several ethnic and semi-official flags were recorded for Gagauz separatists during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, generally featuring the grey wolf (or "bozkurt"). The unrecognized Gagauz Republic adopted such symbolism in various forms; the device was featured on its official flag, which reportedly existed in only one copy.