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Moldova expels Russian diplomat over organization of election in Transnistria

Russia’s ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov was summoned to the Moldova Foreign Ministry on Tuesday

CHISINAU, March 19. /TASS/. Moldova will expel one of the employees of the Russian embassy over the organization of the Russian presidential election in unrecognized Transnistria, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry's press service has said on its Telegram channel.

"In this context, Russia’s ambassador has been officially notified that one of the embassy staffers has been declared persona non grata in Moldova and must leave the country," the post reads.

Russia’s ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov was summoned to the Moldova Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

"A protest was expressed to the diplomat in connection with the organization of the Russian presidential election in the Transnistrian region of Moldova, contrary to the position of the Moldovan authorities," the Foreign Ministry said.

This year, Moldova banned the organization of elections anywhere outside the Russian embassy. Only one polling station operated in Chisinau. However, six more were opened in Transnistria, which is a home to more than 250,000 Russian citizens. As many as 30 polling stations functioned in Moldova and Transnistria in the 2021 elections.

Earlier, Vasnetsov said that the embassy, the Central Election Commission and the Russian Foreign Ministry had received a large number of requests from fellow citizens for ensuring the possibility to participate in the Russian presidential election. He noted that the task of any diplomatic mission was to help protect the legitimate rights and interests of its citizens.

Last August, Moldova expelled 45 staffers of the Russian embassy in order to reduce its personnel to the number of the Moldovan representatives in Moscow - 10 diplomatic staff and 15 support and technical personnel. The expulsion of diplomats was preceded by a number of publications in the media and social networks, where Russian diplomats were accused of espionage.

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Foreign policy Transnistria Moldova

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