Political

Diplomatic scandal: Moscow announces it will expel a diplomat of the Moldovan Embassy

The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that it will declare an employee of the Moldovan Embassy persona non grata in response to the expulsion of a Russian diplomat from the Russian Embassy in Chisinau on 19 April.

"Ambassador Lilian Darius has been handed a note from the Ministry stating that in response to the unjustified decision of the Moldovan authorities on 19 April, the Russian side is declaring an employee of the Moldovan Embassy in Russia persona non grata. In addition, the head of the Moldovan diplomatic mission has been informed that the Russian Federation will block the entry into the country of some Moldovan officials for anti-Russian statements, as well as for aligning Chisinau with European Union sanctions, in which citizens of the Russian Federation are listed," the Russian MFA statement said.

On Tuesday, Moldova's ambassador to Moscow, Lilian Darii, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

An employee of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Chisinau was forced to leave the territory of the Republic of Moldova after being declared persona non grata on Wednesday, April 19.

Moscow described the step as unfriendly and said it would not let it go unanswered.

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