Moldova: 22 Russian diplomats have left the country – Relations with Moscow are deteriorating – Video

Twenty-two Russian diplomats left Moldova today Monday, while its diplomatic relations Chisinau with Moscow are getting worse.

As part of the decision taken last month by the Moldovan government to reduce the staff of the Russian embassy in Chisinau, Russian diplomats left the Moldovan capital.

#Moldova: Accompanied by police, dozens of diplomats and their families were taken by buses to the airport, where a #Russian plane was waiting for them. The number of staff at the Russian Embassy in Moldova was reduced by more than 40 people. pic.twitter.com/2jVufvuKNp

— Denis Dermenzhi (@iamdenya_de) August 14, 2023

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova claimed that the reduction of the staff of the Russian embassy in Chisinau – in 25 out of 80 – it was deemed appropriate to restore the balances corresponding to the number of Moldovan diplomats in Moscow.

The former Soviet republic has made no secret of its concern about the ongoing Russian attack on neighboring Ukraine, while the pro-European president Maya Sandu has accused Moscow of trying to destabilize Moldova.

Employees of the Russian embassy in Moldova have left Chisinau 🤷

The Moldovan authorities decided to reduce the number of staff at the facility after the media pointed out that there were dozens of antennas located on the roof of the building

Source: realitateamd/PointNews pic.twitter.com/TI2BrJEqw3

— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) August 14, 2023

Moldovan television broadcast video showing two buses leaving the Russian embassy, ​​escorted by police patrol cars, bound for Chisinau International Airport. An airport official told the Reuters news agency that the plane carrying the Russian diplomats departed for Moscow with a stopover in Sochi.

A few hours later, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed their arrival in Moscow, underlining that Chisinau’s “unfriendly” action “will undoubtedly have consequences” in Russia-Moldova relations.