Moldova expels Russian diplomat

Moldova trục xuất nhà ngoại Nga - 1 — Russian Embassy building in the capital Chisinau, Moldova (Photo: Reuters).

Reuters reported on April 19 that Moldova summoned Oleg Vasnetsov, the Russian ambassador to Chisinau, to the headquarters of the country's Foreign Ministry . During the meeting, Moldova informed Ambassador Vasnetsov that a diplomat of this country had become "persona non grata". According to the custom, after being declared "persona non grata", this diplomat will be forced to leave Moldova as soon as possible.

The decision was made after Russian diplomats acted inappropriately toward Moldovan border guards, said Moldovan government press spokesman Daniel Vode. According to Reuters , Russian diplomats tried to react after Moldovan border guards refused to let a Russian politician enter the airport in the capital Chisinau.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the above information.

Relations between Russia and Moldova have been strained since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin revoked a 2012 decree that supported Moldova's sovereignty in deciding the future of the breakaway region of Transnistria.

The decision to revoke the visa was posted on the Kremlin's website, saying it was aimed at "ensuring Russia's national interests in the context of profound changes in international relations."

Earlier, on February 13, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that Russia was planning to "use military-trained people to pose as civilians to incite violence, attack government buildings and take hostages" in order to replace the current government in Transnistria with a pro-Russian government. According to Ms. Sandu, this plan is to prevent Moldova from joining the EU and to use Moldovan territory for a military campaign in Ukraine.

Source