Moldova-Russia tensions escalate over Sputnik Moldova expulsion
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned the Moldovan chargé d'affaires in Moscow, Sergiu Goncearenco, to express "strong protest" over the Moldovan government's decision to expel the chief of the Sputnik Moldova news agency, Vitali Denisov.
"This step will not go unanswered," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Russian government said it considers the expulsion to be part of a "anti-Russian campaign" by Moldova. It called on Moldova to "cease the politically motivated persecution of Russian-language media outlets" and to "respect international obligations in the field of freedom of expression and the media and the protection of journalists' rights."
Denisov was declared undesirable in Moldova for a period of ten years. He was escorted out of the country on Wednesday. Moldovan authorities accuse him of interfering in the country's internal affairs, which they say poses a threat to Moldova's national security.
In February 2022, Moldova's Security and Intelligence Service ordered the blocking of the Sputnik Moldova website, saying it was spreading hate speech and promoting war.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
