Moldova to close Russian cultural centre following legal notification

Moldova has officially notified Russia that the Russian Cultural Centre in Chișinău will be closed, with the institution expected to cease operations within six months, Moldovan authorities said.

Speaking to MOLDPRES, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi said the decision follows the non-renewal of a bilateral agreement signed in 1998, which provides the legal basis for the center’s operation. Under the terms of that agreement, either side may terminate it only through non-renewal, with notification required at least six months before its expiration.

Popșoi said the notification sent to Moscow does not require a response, as the decision is final and cannot be appealed. He explained that earlier agreements did not include provisions for unilateral termination, making non-renewal the only legal mechanism available. As a result, the process took longer than some citizens expected after the political decision was made.

The foreign minister said the move was prompted by a series of security incidents involving Russian drones entering Moldova’s airspace. He noted that explosive drones had crossed the country’s territory on multiple occasions, with one incident involving a drone falling around one kilometre from residential areas in southern Moldova.

Popșoi said the decision to close the center was taken to protect Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and was carried out in full compliance with international law. He stressed that despite reservations about the agreement’s content, Moldova respected its legal obligations and followed all required diplomatic and legal procedures.

According to Popșoi, the Russian side has now been formally notified, and the agreement is set to expire by late June or early July. Once the agreement lapses, it will no longer have legal effect, and the Russian Cultural Centre will no longer have a legal basis to operate in Moldova.

He added that while a response from Moscow is expected in due course, Moldova considers the matter settled under international law and expects all parties to comply with the agreement’s provisions.

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