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Moldova expects tit-for-tat action after declaring Russian diplomat persona non grata

Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Chisinau's unfriendly actions, including the expulsion of the Russian diplomat, would not go unanswered

CHISINAU, March 20. /TASS/. Chisinau expects that Moscow will respond in kind after Moldova declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata, Mihai Mitu, Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, told reporters commenting on a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on a further reaction.

"So far we have not been notified about what Russia will do <...>. Traditionally, these are tit-for-tat measures," Mitu said.

According to him, a certain diplomat was declared persona non grata on March 19 due to the functions he performed. Under the rules, he must leave Moldova within 72 hours, Mitu specified.

Earlier, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry issued a protest and announced the expulsion of an employee of the Russian embassy over the voting organized in the Russian presidential election in unrecognized Transnistria. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Chisinau's unfriendly actions, including the expulsion of the Russian diplomat, would not go unanswered.

This year, the pro-European government in Moldova banned voting from taking place anywhere outside the Russian embassy, so only one polling station was opened in Chisinau. However, six more were opened in Transnistria, where more than 250,000 Russian citizens live. Meanwhile, 30 polling stations functioned in Moldova and Transnistria in the 2021 elections.

Russian Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov said that the embassy, the Central Election Commission and the Foreign Ministry had received a host of appeals from fellow citizens with a request to ensure their right to vote in the Russian presidential election. He noted that the task of any diplomatic mission is to help protect the legitimate rights and interests of its citizens.

Last August, Moldova expelled 45 employees of the Russian embassy from the country in order to reduce its staff to match the number of employees at its mission in Moscow - 10 diplomatic staff and 15 people responsible for administrative and technical functions. The expulsion of diplomats was preceded by a number of publications in the media and on social networks, where Russian diplomats were accused of espionage.

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