Moscow Cries Foul After Pro-West Moldova Expels Russian Diplomat

The reported expulsion follows Moldovan authorities detaining two officials suspected of spying for a foreign country.

The Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters next to one of the towers of Moscow’s Kremlin, on March 15, 2023. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Moscow has denounced Moldova’s decision to declare a Russian diplomat “persona non grata” for reasons that remain unclear.

“These actions are aimed at dismantling Russian-Moldovan relations,” Oleg Vasnetsov, Russia’s ambassador to Moldova, said on Aug. 1.