The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration expressed its bewilderment at the participation by Russian troops deployed illegally in the Transnistrian region in the military parade staged in Tiraspol. According to the Ministry, military units of the Operational Group of Russian Troops for the first time took part in the May 9 military parade mounted in Tiraspol, IPN reports.

According to the Ministry’s press service, Chisinau remained surprised given the insistent requests made to the Russian authorities to refrain from such actions. Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Galbur, in a meeting with Russia’s Ambassador to Moldova Farit Muhametshin, asked that the Russian soldiers and military vehicles should not take part in the events organized in the Transnistrian region on May 9.

The Ministry says the participation by Russian soldiers, together with military and paramilitary units of Transnistria, in the events held to celebrate the Victory over Nazism runs counter to the commitments assumed by Russia, in accordance with the principles and norms of international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration voices hope that the Russian authorities will respect the norms and principles of international law and in the future will refrain from actions that can endanger the good relations between the two states.