The speaker of the parliament in Chisinau, Ihor Grosu, claims that the leader of Tatarstan, who was banned from entering the Republic of Moldova on Monday, was informed from the moment of departure, but ignored the warning and, in addition, the members of the delegation who accompanied him behaved very aggressively with employees of the border police at Chisinau airport, News.ro reports.

Ihor Grosu told the details after five days ago, the border police refused to enter the Republic of Moldova to the leader of Tatarstan, and later the employee of the Russian embassy in Chisinau was declared persona non grata because he was leaving the territory of the country.

The president of the parliament told TVR Moldova that the members of the delegation that accompanied Rustam Minniganov behaved aggressively with employees at the border and refused to introduce themselves when asked, NewsMaker.md reports.

“This enchanted passenger was told immediately after take-off that it is not recommended to visit the Republic of Moldova during this period, but he did not violate this message. (…) Instead of apologizing and saying that we regret this incident, they come with attacks, with accusations that we created this situation. This is the tactic of the Russian Federation. This is not the first time. (…) We see aggressive behavior, language, an empire in crisis,” Igor Grosu said.

The Moldovan official considers the authorities’ decision to deny Rustam Minnighanov entry into the country, as well as the later decision to declare the Russian diplomat persona non grata, correct. “We will fulfill our duty properly. Unwanted guests will turn left every time. We will not tolerate aggressive behavior by our employees. (…) We are taking it upon ourselves, and this, in my opinion, is the right decision,” Ihor Grosu said.

• The Republic of Moldova did not let the Russian delegation / Russian officials into the country, they stopped at the airport
• Moscow’s reaction after the Republic of Moldova did not allow the Russian delegation into the country

On April 17, the leader of Tatarstan published a video in which he announced that he was at Chisinau International Airport, but complained that the Moldovan authorities were not letting him into the country. Rustam Minnikhanov was going to take part in the first so-called international congress of people’s diplomacy “Friendship of Nations 2023”, which was held on Monday in Komrat, in Gagauzia, a region that is preparing for elections.

President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov (Photo: Russian Look Ltd. / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia)

On Monday, Moldova called on Russian politicians not to interfere in its internal affairs, and Moscow responded by saying it was “another unfriendly step” towards Russia.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration in Chisinau declared persona non grata of the representative of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Chisinau, who was forced to leave the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The event, proposed to Minister Nik Popescu by Prime Minister Dorin Rechan, was reported to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov, who was summoned to the MAESI headquarters.

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