Moldova yesterday expelled a Russian diplomat and invited the Russian ambassador to lodge an official protest after the former Soviet country detained two of its officials in a spy case linked to the Russian embassy in the capital Chisinau.
Moscow has vowed to respond to the expulsions, the latest sign of strained relations with Moldova, which sits between Ukraine and NATO member Romania and is seeking to join the European Union by 2030. It has strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. .
"Information and evidence have been obtained that confirm that on the territory of Moldova (a Russian diplomat) was carrying out activities that are incompatible with his diplomatic status," according to a statement by the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was reported by Reuters.
The announcement came a day after state prosecutors said two Moldovan officials had been detained on suspicion of treason and conspiracy for gathering and providing information to a member of a foreign embassy in Chisinau.
The country was not named, but Moldovan media and a security source identified it as the Russian embassy, which issued a statement criticizing "another manifestation of anti-Russian sentiments that are being artificially incited."
Pro-Western president Maja Sandu, who is running for a second term in October, said in an interview with Moldovan television channel Žurnal: "Now the most important thing is to ensure that this example of betrayal is punished."
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the expulsion of its diplomat as a "hostile step" and what it described as an "aggressive anti-Russian direction" by Moldova.
Relations between Moscow and Moldova deteriorated sharply after Chisinau took a pro-European course and accused Moscow of trying to destabilize it.
Moldova opened accession talks with the European Union last month after gaining candidate status alongside Ukraine in June 2022.
Moldova significantly reduced the size of its Russian embassy last August, expelling 22 diplomats and 23 staff after media reports of a large number of antennas on the embassy's roof that it said could be used for intelligence purposes.
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