Moldova’s Ambassador to Russia Andrei Neguța was recalled. A draft decision to this effect was approved in the December 9 meeting of the Cabinet, IPN reports.

Prime Minister Ion Chicu said the decision was taken following the shameful incident reported several days ago. “It’s clear that this is the at least indirect responsibility of the manager of the embassy. That’s why he should answer for this,” stated the official.

Premier Chicu asked the minister of foreign affairs to determine what’s going on as there is a risk that Moldova will become famous in Europe for smuggling through Moldovan diplomats. He also made reference to cigarettes found on the Moldovan-Romanian border in 2010, which belonged to a person who now serves as an MP and to other cases.

Andrei Neguța returned to the post of Ambassador to Russia Andrei in March 2018, after he was earlier withdrawn.

Under the legal provisions, the ambassadors are named and dismissed by the President of the Republic of Moldova, at the suggestion of the Government. In a TV program, incumbent President Igor Dodon said that he didn’t discuss with Ambassador Neguța the case of anabolic steroids found in a bus that was on a special mission on the Moscow – Chisinau – Moscow route based on a request made by Moldova’s Embassy in Russia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for dispatching current diplomatic mail to Chisinau.

According to Igor Dodon, this case is a shame and, if the ambassador is to blame, he should be fired and held accountable.