"The statement by Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov, claiming that Moldova's economic situation depends on trade ties with Russia, represents a severe distortion of reality. The Republic of Moldova will not tolerate attempts at misinformation or undermining the truth", emphasized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to remarks made by the Russian ambassador during a radio interview in Russia, IPN reports.

The MFA accuses Russia of imposing politically motivated, abusive embargoes over the years, which have impacted Moldovan producers and many families reliant on exports. Chisinau authorities highlight that "over 65% of Moldova's exports go to European Union countries, while only 3.7% are directed to the Russian Federation. Even the Transnistrian region of Moldova exports over 80% of its goods to the EU".

The ambassador also commented on the neutrality of Moldova, yet "Russia is the only state that has long violated Moldova's constitutional neutrality through the presence of Russian troops on Moldovan territory", MFA said.

In this context, Chisinau authorities have made a proposal: "If the Russian Federation's ambassador wishes to contribute to the revival of bilateral relations, the first step should be developing a concrete plan for the unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from the left bank of the Dniester".

In the conclusion of its statement, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the Russian envoy to adhere to diplomatic norms and refrain from disseminating false information.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs demands that the accredited ambassador of the Russian Federation cease propagating false and manipulative statements that may exceed the boundaries of diplomatic behavior, as regulated by the Vienna Convention. The Republic of Moldova will not tolerate attempts at misinformation or undermining the truth", the MFA stated in its rebuttal following Ambassador Oleg Ozerov's interview.