Moscow accused the former Soviet republic of violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
Russia summoned Moldovan ambassador Lilian Darii on Tuesday over what it described as two incidents involving the abuse of Russian diplomats in Moldova. The move increases tensions between Moscow and the former Soviet republic, whose pro-European Union government is a staunch supporter of Ukraine.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, police in Chisinau stopped a bus driven by the Russian Embassy over the weekend and removed its diplomatic license plates. “without explanation.” The Ministry claimed that officials “use of force” against embassy staff and threatening to detain them.
In a separate incident, a group of Russian diplomats transporting official cargo from Moldova to Romania were detained at the border for more than four hours. “without any justification,” the ministry has said.
The ministry said the incidents were caused “major breach” of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova denied the claims, saying that the country “It faithfully fulfills its international obligations and will continue to act in full compliance with international law and the principle of equality in diplomatic relations.” It did not comment on the specific events reported by Russia.
Moldova, a country of about 2.5 million people located between Romania and Ukraine, has adopted increasingly anti-Russian policies under President Maia Sandu, who took office in 2020.
Sandu has accused Russia of trying to overthrow his government and run a “Advanced hybrid warfare” against the country. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova rejected the claims, saying that Chisinau was using it. “The story of the Russian threat” to remove voters from the economic problems of the country.
The EU granted Moldova candidate status in 2022 along with Ukraine. Sandu floated the possibility of leaving the constitutional position and joining “The greatest union,” without specifically mentioning NATO. Zakharova denounced the words as an attempt to turn Moldova into a “military head against Russia.”
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