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Russia denies entry to dozens of Moldovan officials

2023-08-18 18:07:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Russia denies entry to dozens of Moldovan officials

Twenty Moldovan officials have been banned from entering Russia, following Moldova's "unfriendly" decision to expel 45 Russian diplomats and Russian Embassy workers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced this decision on August 18. However, the communiqué did not identify the Moldovan officials affected by this decision.

Radio Free Europe's Moldovan service reported that the ban will apply to 20 officials, including 18 lawmakers from the President Maia Sandu's Action and Solidarity Party (PAS).

The other two officials, according to REL, are the deputy director of the border police, Oleg Bucataru, and the director of the Independent Press Association, Petru Macovei.

The Moldovan ambassador to Russia was summoned on August 18 to the Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a protest note regarding what Moscow calls "Chisinau's unjustified decision to dramatically reduce the number of workers" at the Russian Embassy.

In the announcement of the Russian MFA, it was said that limiting the number of Russian diplomats in Moldova is an "unfriendly step" that leads to the further destruction of relations between Russia and Moldova "which are already in a deep crisis".

Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu on July 26 ordered the Russian Embassy to reduce its staff to 25 from 70 workers by August 15. All 45 Russians and their families left Moldova earlier this week, ahead of a deadline set by Moldovan authorities.

Popescu said the decision will result in fewer "individuals destabilizing our state."

President Sandu has steered her country towards the West, and last year Moldova received an invitation to start negotiations for membership in the European Union. She also accused Moscow of trying to destabilize Moldova and condemned the Russian occupation of Ukraine./ REL





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