Romania has declared the mayor of the capital of Moldova Ion Ceban a persona non grata on “national security reasons”, the Romanian foreign ministry said Wednesday.
The foreign ministry said that the ban stopped the pro-Russian mayor from “access to the Schengen area”, meaning he is barred from traveling not only to Romania but to most EU countries as well. The ban is for five years.
The ministry did not elaborate but Romania has been battling Russian disinformation and allegations of election meddling in recent months. It even canceled presidential elections in December saying Kremlin interference had catapulted a near-unknown candidate to win the first round. Moscow has denied meddling.
Mr. Ceban, who was elected mayor in 2019 and won re-election in 2023, is known for his anti-European and pro-Russian views. He is an opponent of the pro-European government and President Maia Sandu and opposes Moldova’s bid to join the EU.
He reacted to the ban by accusing President Sandu and the ruling Action and Solidarity Party of “political revenge”.
“They (Eds: the government) do not have (support) all over the country … and invent all kinds of tricks to stay in government.”
Moldova holds parliamentary elections on September 28.
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