The visit of the Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu to Moldova cannot be considered official, said Prime Minister Maia Sandu at a Government meeting. Shoygu is supposed to meet with his Modlovan counterpart Pavel Voicu on August 24, but Sandu argues that diplomatic protocol wasn’t followed in arranging the visit.

Maia Sandu also requested that the Moldovan ambassador to Moscow, Andrei Neguța, be summoned to Chisinau to explain how this visit was organized without the Government being notified.

Maia Sandu said that under these circumstances Sergey Shoygu can visit  Moldova as a private person, without the capacity to sign official agreements. In order to assure the official character of a visit, protocol must be followed, the Government needs to be notified in writing and in advance, and an agenda needs to be set, she added.