President Igor Dodon said the decision by the Moldovan authorities to declare Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin persona non-grata in the Republic of Moldova is an act of great political stupidity. In a posting on Facebook, the President wrote from Mount Athos, where he will stay until August 4, that the decision is detrimental to the Republic of Moldova and its citizens, IPN reports.

“I don’t know if the rulers do this on their own account or are rather guided like marionettes from over the Ocean. It’s definite that they engaged Moldova in a diplomatic and geopolitical conflict that is unprecedented in the last 25 years. It is regrettable for Moldova and its people that this government leads the country at a high speed to a serious political and geopolitical accident. When we experience it, we will all feel the consequences, during many years ahead,” wrote Igor Dodon.

According to him, the restoration of good relations with Russia, for which he pleaded as the President of the Republic of Moldova, for tens of thousands of Moldovan farmers and workers represented a chance to obtain jobs and incomes from export. “But the parliamentary alliance, the government and the Democratic Party do their best to thwart these economic and social perspectives. The negotiations with Tiraspol are also compromised,” stated President Dodon.

The Cabinet on August 2 approved a decision on the imposition of restrictive measures whereby the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin was declared undesirable on Moldova’s territory. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Andrei Galbur, Rogozin made a number of public statements that are unfriendly, denigrating and offensive to Moldova and its people. He also made statements insulting the Moldovan authorities.