Between 1999 and February 2002, Moldova was divided into 12 territorial units, including 1 municipality, 1 autonomous territorial unit, 1 territorial unit, and 9 counties : Chișinău municipality, surrounded by Chișinău County, but different from it Bălți County Cahul County Chișinău County Edineț County Lăpușna County Orhei County Soroca County Tighina County Ungheni County Găgăuzia, autonomous territorial unit Stânga Nistrului, territorial unit In October 1999 a Taraclia County was split out from the Cahul County; it coincides with the current Taraclia District. Wikipedia