Burc Eruygur
11 January 2024•Update: 11 January 2024
ISTANBUL
Russia announced Wednesday that it summoned the Moldovan ambassador to protest his country’s “unfriendly” actions, saying it reserves the right to take additional retaliatory measures should they continue.
“Such unfriendly actions include facts of politically motivated persecution of Russian and Russian-language media, which run counter to Chisinau’s international obligations in the field of protecting freedom of speech and the rights of journalists,” said a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The statement said cases of discrimination against Russian citizens entering Moldova have become “systemic,” noting that “unfounded refusals” to cross the country’s border have also become more frequent.
“The leadership of the Republic of Moldova continues to make aggressive statements of an anti-Russian nature,” it said.
It further said that the decision to block the entry of “a number of” Moldovan officials in response to the actions of the country’s leadership was brought to the attention of Moldovan ambassador Lilian Darii.
Darii was also informed of Russia’s concern regarding information circulating in the media on plans to assist in the training of Ukrainian military personnel in Moldova together with NATO countries, the statement said.
“It was pointed out that such support is unacceptable, leading to the erosion of the neutral status of Moldova and its direct involvement in hostilities on the side of the Kyiv regime,” it added.
Relations between Russia and Moldova, a former republic of the Soviet Union, have deteriorated since 2003 and completely degraded since pro-Western Maia Sandu was elected president in 2020.
Sandu’s condemnation of Russia’s “special military operation” in neighboring Ukraine has further escalated tensions between the two countries, with Sandu also publicly accusing Moscow of attempting to orchestrate her ouster and “destabilize” Moldova. Russia has denied the claims.
