The Moldovan Foreign Ministry declared the three "persona non grata" and ordered them to leave, saying there was "clear evidence'' of actions that violated their diplomatic responsibilities.
The Moldovan Foreign Ministry has handed a note to Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov.
"The Foreign Ministry has sent the Russian diplomat a note declaring three employees of the Russian Embassy as persona non grata," the Moldovan foreign policy agency said in a statement. It insisted that the decision by the country’s authorities was based on "clear evidence of activities in the Republic of Moldova incompatible with diplomatic status."
Russia's Foreign Ministry pledged to take retaliatory measures, though it has not specified what those might be, as confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement to TASS.
In response, the Russian ambassador described the accusations from the Moldovan side as "untenable and unfounded." He called on Chisinau to "refrain from provocative speculation" and to return to a pragmatic dialogue on the full range of bilateral issues, which he said aligns with the fundamental interests of both the people of Moldova and Russia.
The expulsions came shortly after Moldova accused the Russian Embassy in Chisinau of helping a pro-Kremlin lawmaker evade a prison sentence. Russian officials have dismissed the accusations as baseless.
Alexandru Musteata, director of Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service, stated at a briefing that the Russian Embassy had allegedly assisted Alexander Nesterovsky, a legislator from the Victory political bloc, in evading justice. He claimed that a day before Nesterovsky’s verdict was issued, the opposition activist was granted access to the embassy, and the following day, he was transported to Transnistria in a vehicle with diplomatic plates.
Nesterovschii was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison after being convicted of illegally funding a political party linked to Ilan Shor — a fugitive businessman and former lawmaker.
Shor, who fled Moldova after being linked to one of the country's biggest bank fraud scandals, has since aligned himself with pro-Kremlin causes.
According to regulatory filings, he is believed to have set up intermediary companies — some in partnership with sanctioned entities — to help Russian businesses evade Western financial restrictions. His political network has backed parties accused of undermining Moldova's pro-European trajectory.
Moldovan prosecutors say that Nesterovschii funneled money from Shor-linked sources to influence key political events — including the 2023 local elections, the 2024 presidential race, and a referendum on Moldova's bid to join the European Union.
The latest diplomatic tensions come as Moldova gears up for parliamentary elections this autumn, which will gauge the popularity of its pro-European leadership.
Azerbaijan’s AERA and Moldova’s ANRE signed a memorandum to strengthen cooperation in energy regulation and regional resilience.
“The EU will stand with Moldova in every step of the way until the very membership,” - stated Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission at her joint press-conference with the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu.
Moldova's parliament voted on Thursday to set the date for parliamentary elections, which will take place on September 28.
A three-year project aiming to accelerate Moldova’s EU accession was officially launched in Chisinau on Tuesday. The project is a part of the European Union's assistance to candidate countries seeking EU membership.
Moldova is interested in importing natural gas from Azerbaijan to diversify its energy sources and enhance national energy security, the country’s energy minister said in Baku.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 23rd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korea and Malaysia agreed to expand bilateral cooperation, including efforts to finalize a free trade agreement, during a phone call between their leaders, local media reported.
Overnight Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv killed five people, injured dozens, and damaged residential buildings and a metro station serving as a bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities inflicted “monumental damage,” citing satellite images as evidence.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
A high-speed tram derailment in central Gothenburg, Sweden, has left at least eight people injured late on Thursday (19 June), after the vehicle slammed into a snack bar on Avenyn Avenue.
China has unveiled a mosquito-sized bionic drone designed for covert military operations and battlefield reconnaissance, marking a major advance in micro-robotics and stealth technology as part of the country’s growing focus on next-generation warfare capabilities.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
The USS Nimitz is heading to the Middle East amid tensions between Israel and Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier has a decades-long history in the region, from the 1979 hostage crisis to modern deployments, often serving as a key asset during periods of rising friction with Iran.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 23rd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korea and Malaysia agreed to expand bilateral cooperation, including efforts to finalize a free trade agreement, during a phone call between their leaders, local media reported.
Overnight Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv killed five people, injured dozens, and damaged residential buildings and a metro station serving as a bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities inflicted “monumental damage,” citing satellite images as evidence.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 23rd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
South Korea and Malaysia agreed to expand bilateral cooperation, including efforts to finalize a free trade agreement, during a phone call between their leaders, local media reported.
Overnight Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv killed five people, injured dozens, and damaged residential buildings and a metro station serving as a bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities inflicted “monumental damage,” citing satellite images as evidence.
North Korea strongly condemned the U.S. strike on Iran, calling it a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security interests.
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