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.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
An international academic conference titled "Islamophobia: Exposing Prejudice and Destroying Stigma" has officially opened in the capital of Azerbaijan, bringing together global scholars, experts, and policymakers to address the rise and consequences of anti-Muslim discrimination.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
Landslides and flash floods caused by days of heavy monsoon rain have killed at least 22 people in India’s northeast, officials said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment