The Russian ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Oleg Vasnetsov, will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Chisinau on Wednesday, where the authorities will inform him about the “inappropriate behavior” of two Russian diplomats. At the same time, the authorities will study the possibility of declaring one of the diplomats “persona non grata”, writes desdechi.md.

According to the spokesman of the government of Chisinau, Daniel Vode, the decision was made as a result of the actions of the Russian embassy employees in relation to the border police, who prohibited the entry into the territory of the Republic of Moldova to the head of the Republic of Tatarstan from Russia, Rustam Minnikhanov.

“The behavior of some officials in relation to our government is unacceptable,” he said.

Russian officials stopped at Chisinau airport

It will be recalled that on Monday the Republic of Moldova did not allow the Russian delegation into the country and warned politicians from Moscow not to interfere in its internal problems before the regional elections.

Minnikhanov arrived on the official government plane of Tatarstan, but he was not allowed to disembark.

The press release of the Moldovan police said that his visit was aimed at strengthening support for the pro-Russian candidate who will participate in the elections.

The delegation led by Rustam Minnighanov, which also included the Russian metropolitan, was supposed to participate in a pre-election demonstration in the semi-autonomous region of Gagauzia, where elections for the post of baghin (head of the region) will be held on April 30. . Rustam Minnikhanov is a supporter of the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, and together with his family was put on the list of Western sanctions.

He was going to take part in the Congress of People’s Diplomacy “Friendship of Peoples – 2023” in Gagauz at the invitation of Komrat People’s Assembly Deputy (Gagauz Autonomy) Viktor Petrov. He recently appealed to the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, to declare Russian the second state language in Moldova, arguing that 80% of Moldovans speak Russian.

Also, on Monday, April 17, the border police of the Republic of Moldova blocked another 45 foreigners from entering the country, and on Tuesday, they refused another 31 persons. They could not justify the purpose of their trip and were confused in their statements regarding the purpose of the visit to Moldova.

From the first day of the war in Ukraine, the authorities of Moldova introduced strict border control. It is about several filters – assessment is carried out on the basis of several “risk criteria”, and in addition, the profile of people who want to enter Moldova is checked. According to the results of these inspections, 8,999 people were returned from the border last year.

Minnikhanov complained that Kishinev had declared him persona non grata

Minnikhanov posted a video on social media saying that Moldovan authorities had labeled him and his delegation as “undesirable persons,” a move he called “sad.”

He said that the residents of Tatarstan and Gagauzia, regions with a large Turkish minority, are “brothers”.

“Together with Viktor Petrov and Oleksandr Sukhodolsky, who recently visited our republic, we predicted a large program of events. Unfortunately, the Moldovan authorities have decided that we are “non grata” who cannot visit this country. Therefore, unfortunately, we will not be able to take part in the congress,” said Rustam Minnikhanov before leaving the Republic of Moldova, as quoted by deschide.md.

The press of the Republic of Moldova wrote that Viktor Petrov is a deputy of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia and a candidate for the elections of the head of the region, which will be held at the end of this month.

Minniganov’s luxury plane would fly over Romanian airspace without any problems

Minnighanov’s luxury plane landed on Monday at Chisinau airport after flying over the airspace of Romania, a NATO member, without any problems, Deutsche Welle said.

Sources in Chisinau told DW that Minniganov had been warned not to travel to the Republic of Moldova, and the fact that he entered by force indicates that the purpose of his visit was to provoke the Moldovan authorities.

Arriving in Chisinau, he did not even have time to get off the plane, he had to immediately turn back.

• “Because it is forbidden for politicians, artists or priests from an aggressor and terrorist country to campaign here,” said Adrian Cheptonar, a member of the parliamentary commission on national security.