The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that it was expelling a Moldovan diplomat after the ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Moscow announced constructive talks with the Russian side, Reuters reported.

On Tuesday morning, Russian state media reported that Chisinau’s ambassador to Moscow, Lilian Daria, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry for talks.

After leaving the meeting, Darius told Russian journalists that he had a “constructive conversation” with the Russian side.

“There is a diplomatic routine. Sometimes it is necessary to discuss some issues. Today was such a day,” said the Moldovan diplomat, answering questions about the reasons for the visit.

He also assessed the nature of the discussion as “positive”, reports the TASS agency. “In a constructive way,” he said when asked how the discussion went.

The Russian state press also wrote that the ambassador of the Republic of Moldova was in the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry for about 30 minutes.

Russia’s statement after a “constructive discussion” with the Moldovan ambassador

But on Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced it was expelling a Moldovan diplomat in response to the expulsion of a Russian diplomat from Chisinau last week.

The press release of the Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that this was the reason for calling Darius for talks, as well as for protesting against him due to what Russian diplomacy called “unfriendly steps towards Russia” and “constant statements against Russia” of the Chisinau government. .

The spokesperson of the executive power of Moldova placed the responsibility for the expulsion on the actions of the Russian embassy regarding the Moldovan border guards who refused to let the Russian delegation into the country headed by the head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minniganov, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, whom Chisinau claims was sent to the country to influence elections in Gagauzia.

The delegation led by Minnighanov, which also included the Russian metropolitan, was supposed to participate in a pre-election demonstration in this semi-autonomous region of the Republic. Moldova, where on April 30, the elections of baghin (head of the region) will be held.

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

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.

Relations between Russia and the republic The situation in Moldova worsened significantly after the coming to power in the neighboring country of the pro-Western government of President Maia Sandu, who repeatedly accused Moscow of trying to destabilize the country after the invasion of Ukraine.

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