Russia on Tuesday summoned Moldovan Ambassador Lilian Darii to the Foreign Ministry after accusing Moldovan authorities of subjecting employees of the Russian Embassy in Chișinău to what it described as "force and threats of detention."

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said embassy personnel had recently been involved in two separate incidents that it characterized as unacceptable and contrary to diplomatic norms.

According to Moscow, one incident involved Russian diplomatic staff being subjected to lengthy delays while crossing the Moldova-Romania border, while another saw embassy employees stopped for what Russia described as arbitrary document checks while traveling within the Moldovan capital.

The ministry alleged that during one of the incidents over the weekend, Moldovan police used force and threatened to detain Russian diplomatic personnel.

"The Moldovan side's actions constitute a gross violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the ministry said, adding that Ambassador Darii had been formally presented with Russia's protest.

The Foreign Ministry warned that Moscow reserves the right to take reciprocal measures in response to what it called hostile actions against its diplomatic mission.

Moldova Yet to Respond

As of Tuesday evening, Moldova's Foreign Ministry had not issued an official response to Russia's allegations.

Relations between Moscow and Chișinău have deteriorated sharply in recent years, with repeated diplomatic disputes, reciprocal expulsions of diplomats, and accusations of interference in each other's internal affairs.

Since the outbreak of the war in neighboring Ukraine in 2022, Moldova has accelerated its integration with the European Union while reducing its political and economic dependence on Russia.

The Moldovan government has repeatedly accused Moscow of attempting to destabilize the country through disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and support for pro-Russian political groups—allegations the Kremlin has consistently denied.

Diplomatic Tensions Continue

The latest dispute comes amid a broader deterioration in bilateral relations.

In recent years, both countries have expelled diplomats, reduced the size of each other's diplomatic missions, and exchanged accusations over alleged espionage and interference.

Moldova has also strengthened security cooperation with European partners and intensified border controls following concerns about regional security linked to the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia, meanwhile, has repeatedly criticized Moldova's increasingly pro-European foreign policy and its efforts to deepen ties with the European Union and NATO partners, while warning against measures it says discriminate against Russian diplomats and citizens.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it expects Moldova to comply fully with its obligations under international diplomatic law and warned that failure to do so could prompt reciprocal action from Moscow. (ILKHA)