Anton Novakov

Anton Novakov
Died	September 1938
Occupation(s)	Industrial entrepreneur, parliamentarian
Years active	1917–1930s
Known for	Member of Sfatul Țării, involvement in Bessarabian politics and credit unions

Anton Novakov or Novacov (; passed away September 1938) was an industrial entrepreneur and parliamentarian from Bessarabia, belonging to both Bulgarian and Gagauz ethnic groups. Active within the Russian Empire's Bessarabia Governorate, he played a key role in establishing credit unions and secured election in late 1917 to the Bessarabian legislative body, known as Sfatul Țării, which declared the Moldavian Democratic Republic in December. Novakov contributed to the Commission to Combat Anarchy and was instrumental in forming a republican militia. He did not participate in the March 1918 vote on Bessarabia's union with Romania, citing military assignments, though subsequent accusations implied his opposition to the union. Remaining in Romanian Bessarabia thereafter, he integrated into the political framework of Greater Romania, initially affiliating with the People's Party before joining the National Liberal Party. During the late 1920s, he engaged in legal disputes with Romanian authorities concerning entitlements associated with his prior Sfatul membership.

Biography

Novakov’s heritage is recorded as Bulgarian or Gagauz, with archival documents describing him as "Gagauz-Bulgarian." Historian Ivan Duminică notes his early professional activity as a cashier for credit unions within Bender County, where he was also identified as an "industrialist." He gained election to Sfatul Țării representing the Union of Credit Co-operatives, a body encompassing co-operative organizations from the Budjak region. On 22 November 1917, Novakov became part of the 12-member Validation Commission responsible for verifying deputies’ mandates and participated in commissions focused on combating anarchy and overseeing legal statutes.

Throughout his term, the Moldavian Democratic Republic was incorporated into the Kingdom of Romania. Novakov was one of thirteen deputies absent during the unification vote on 27 March 1918, attributing his absence to official responsibilities involving troop resupply efforts against Bolshevik forces. Bolshevik historian A. Ryabinin-Sklyarevski later asserted that Novakov had signed a protest opposing the union; however, historian Petru Cazacu clarified that Novakov and other signatories subsequently accepted Romanian citizenship and lived peacefully under Romanian administration.

Settling in Chișinău, Novakov became involved with the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 1920, he unsuccessfully sought a Senate seat representing Tighina County as a candidate from the People's Party and led its county organization. By 1925, he endorsed PP candidate Sergiu Niță and chaired a regional syndicate for millers. That same year, he shifted allegiance to the National Liberal Party and secured election to the Chamber of Commerce council on an Independent List. In 1926, he acted as a delegate for the Chamber advising on labor matters concerning foreign workers; however, his appointment to Tighina County council was blocked by local officials.

Novakov affiliated with a group of former Sfatul deputies and took part in commemorating the union’s tenth anniversary in 1928. He pursued legal action over land grants reserved for pro-union deputies but was unsuccessful. Financial hardship compelled his wife to sell their residence in Mereni in 1930. News of his death was conveyed by the Tighina Federation of Co-operatives in September 1938. Following Bessarabia’s Soviet occupation in 1940, his widow became a refugee and was relocated to Buzău by Romanian authorities.

References

• Ivan Duminică, "On the Issue of Bulgarians and Gagauz in Sfatul Țării", included in Ivan Duminică et al. (eds.), Budjak: From Past to Present. Collection of Articles Honoring Ivan Fedorovich Grek's 80th Birthday, pages 289–314. Chișinău: Lexon-Prim, 2019.
• Valeriu Popovschi, "New Documents Concerning the Activities of the Organizational Office of Sfatul Țării in Establishing Bessarabia's First Parliament", found in Nicolae Enciu (ed.), In Honor of Alexandru Moșanu: Studies on Medieval, Modern, and Contemporary Romanian History, pages 363–373. Cluj-Napoca: Romanian Academy & Presa Universitară Clujeană, 2012.
• Ion Țurcanu, Sfatul Țării: The Turbulent History of a Key Bessarabian Political Institution from 1917–1918. Chișinău: Editura Arc, 2018.