You're reading: Moscow investigating death of Moldovan driver at peacekeeping checkpoint in Transdniestria

Moscow - The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed its condolences on the death of a Moldovan citizen within the Transdniestria conflict security area.

The incident occurred at a Russian-Moldovan-Transdniestrian peacekeeping checkpoint close to a bridge across the Dniester River near the city of Vadul lui Voda within the Transdniestria conflict security area at about 7:00 a.m. on January 1, the Foreign Ministry said.

A Lada car with Moldovan license plates twice passed through the checkpoint at a speed significantly higher than mandated, knocking down a fence, the ministry said. Acting in line with instructions, the commander of the Russian unit first fired warning shots in the air and then, as the driver ignored them, started shooting at the car’s tires.

However, one of the bullets hit the driver, Vadim Pisar, 18, a Moldovan citizen, who was immediately taken to a hospital but, despite surgery, died later.

Russia is carefully investigating the incident and will inform Moldova of the investigation results, the ministry said.

The ministry discussed the incident in telephone conversations with Moldovan Deputy Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Andrei Popov and Moldovan Ambassador to Russia Andrei Neguta on January 3.