Russia to respond to expulsion of diplomat from Moldova

Russia will respond to Moldova's decision to declare as persona non grata an employee of the Russian embassy due to the holding of the Russian presidential election in unrecognized Transnistria, the Foreign Ministry has told TASS.

"Russia will give an appropriate response," the Foreign Ministry said.

On Tuesday, Russia’s ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov was summoned to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry.

"A protest was expressed in connection with the organization of the Russian presidential election in the Transnistrian region of Moldova, contrary to the position of the Moldovan authorities," the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said.

This year, Moldova banned the organization of elections anywhere outside the Russian embassy. Only one polling station operated in Chisinau. However, six more were opened in Transnistria, which is a home to more than 250,000 Russian citizens. As many as 30 polling stations functioned in Moldova and Transnistria in the 2021 elections.