Three diplomats of the Embassy of Russia in Moldova were declared personas non-grata. They have to leave the country within seven days, IPN reports.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, the three diplomats were declared personas non-grata in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). The content of the Verbal Note on the expulsion of the diplomats was communicated to Russia’s Ambassador to Moldova Farit Muhametshin, who was summoned to the Ministry on March 27.
The Moldovan authorities’ decision was taken in solidarity with the UK and following the conclusions of the European Council of March 23-24, 2018, which describe the Salisbury attack as a threat to the collective security and international law.
On a social networking site, President Igor Dodon condemned the decision, describing it as a new anti-Russia provocation. According to him, the Republic of Moldova assumed no common commitments in relation to the UK and other NATO members to have to take such actions based on the principle of solidity.
The UK said Russia was “highly likely” responsible for the attempted murder of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. The Kremlin administration denies the accusations. The foreign affairs ministers of the EU member states adopted a position of solidarity with the UK, demanding that Russia should offer clarification.
