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Moscow to retaliate Chisinau's decision to reduce Russian embassy staff — diplomat

"We consider these to be unjustified and unfriendly actions that will not go unanswered," Maria Zakharova stated

MOSCOW, July 26. /TASS/. Russia will not leave Moldova's decision to reduce the number of the Russian diplomats in the country unanswered, it is another step by Chisinau to destroy bilateral relations, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"We consider these to be unjustified and unfriendly actions that will not go unanswered. This is another step by the Chisinau regime to destroy bilateral relations," she said, commenting on Moldova's move.

"As for the so-called investigation, which contains unfounded accusations of espionage activities against the Russian Embassy in Chisinau and its staff, this is some kind of a fantasy story that has nothing to do with reality. Our diplomats and diplomatic missions in Moldova strictly abide by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," she said.

Earlier, Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicu Popescu said that the official Chisinau decided to reduce the number of staff of the Russian embassy. According to Popescu, the reason for such a step was the suspicion that "part of the embassy staff is involved in destabilizing the situation in the country". He added that the Russian Embassy staff had been informed of this.

Tags

Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Moldova Maria Zakharova

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