CHISINAU, July 29. /TASS/. The Russian Consulate in Chisinau is suspending its operations after the Moldovan government demanded that the diplomatic staff be reduced by approximately two-thirds by August 15.

"The consular department at the Russian Embassy in the Republic of Moldova temporarily suspends appointments from August 5, 2023, for technical reasons," the diplomatic agency said on its Telegram channel.

Earlier, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry notified Russian Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov of the necessity to reduce the embassy staff by 45 people - to 10 diplomats and 15 technical workers. Thus, their number will correspond to the number of employees at the Moldovan Embassy in Moscow. Chisinau explained its decision by Russia’s purported multiple unfriendly actions and attempts to destabilize Moldova’s domestic political situation.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Moldova’s decision to cut the staff of the Russian diplomatic mission continues the unfriendly course of the republic’s current leadership with regard to Russia. He stressed that, according to diplomatic rules, such steps are normally reciprocated.