OMM Newsroom
Russia has declared a staff member of Moldova’s embassy in Moscow persona non grata, AnewZ reported. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was in response to a similar move by Moldova last month.
According to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moldovan Ambassador to Russia Lilian Darii was summoned and handed a note informing him of the decision, which Moscow said was taken “on the basis of the principle of reciprocity”. The ministry also said it had lodged a strong protest with Moldova.
Moscow called Chisinau’s earlier decision “another unfriendly step”. Russia alleged that its real purpose was to damage the centuries-old history of relations between the two countries and create the most difficult possible conditions for Russian diplomats in Chisinau.
On October 23, Moldova declared a staff member of Russia’s embassy in Chisinau persona non grata after a drone carrying explosives crashed in the village of Chistelnita, in the country’s central Telenesti district.
Moldovan officials said the drone fell about 100 meters from a residential building. President Maia Sandu said it was a Russian-made Geran attack drone that had violated Moldova’s airspace and crashed near homes and an energy facility.
“Russia’s war continues to put the lives of Moldovan residents at risk. Today, a Russian-made Geran attack drone violated our airspace and crashed near homes and an energy facility. We condemn this latest dangerous act,” Sandu wrote on the X platform at the time.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said Moscow would respond to the diplomat’s expulsion.
Moldova renews protests over airspace violations
The Moldovan government has repeatedly protested the entry into its territory of drones and missiles reported to belong to Russia during the war in Ukraine.
On October 3, Sandu said five Russian aerial attack assets, including missiles and drones, had violated Moldovan airspace and exploded on the country’s territory during Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukraine. In mid-October, Moldova reported that five drones had crashed inside the country in less than 24 hours.
Russia says Moldova has provided no evidence that the drones belonged to it and accuses the Moldovan authorities of fuelling Russophobic sentiment.
A former Soviet republic, Moldova lies between Ukraine and Romania. The country is led by pro-European President Maia Sandu and aims to join the European Union by 2030.
