Moldova has expelled a Russian diplomat and called in its ambassador to make an official protest, after two Moldovan officials were detained on treason and conspiracy allegations.
The two people were detained earlier this week on suspicion of providing information to the Russian embassy, following a search of offices in the Moldovan parliament.
Moldovan media reported that the head of the parliament’s legal department was allegedly caught red-handed while passing information to the Russian Embassy in Chișinău, and the second one was a border police official.
Moldova’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday that “information and evidence were obtained that attest to the conduct on the territory of the Republic of Moldova (by a Russian diplomat) of activities incompatible with (their) diplomatic status.”
Russia’s ambassador to Chisinau, Oleg Vasnetsov, told reporters that Moscow viewed the expulsion of its diplomats as “unfriendly” and that Russia would respond.
Moscow has criticized the new treason and conspiracy case and described it as a “yet another manifestation of anti-Russian sentiments that are artificially fostered in Moldova”.
Relations between Russia and the small former Soviet republic, which lies between Ukraine and NATO member Romania, have gotten much worse after Chisinau embarked on a pro-Western path. President Maia Sandu has accused Moscow of meddling in domestic affairs and trying to destabilize the nation of 3 million.
In June, Igor Gorgan, the former Moldovan chief of staff was accused of handing over classified information about the former Soviet state’s defenses to Russian intelligence services, an investigation revealed.
Moldova has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
