Moldova Expels Russian Diplomats After Pro-Moscow Lawmaker’s Escape

Moldova on Monday ordered the expulsion of three Russian diplomats after accusing the embassy of helping a pro-Moscow lawmaker wanted for illegal political funding flee justice. 

Moldovan authorities have repeatedly accused Russia of trying to destabilize the former Soviet republic, including by interfering in governmental institutions and elections. Moscow denies the allegations. 

The move comes after Moldova’s security service published video footage from a surveillance camera, claiming it showed lawmaker Alexandr Nesterovschi entering the Russian embassy on March 18.

Authorities say on the next day, Nesterovschi was taken to the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria in a minivan that had diplomatic license plates.

Nesterovschi disappeared just before a Moldovan court sentenced him to 12 years in prison for corruption and illegal funding of a party linked to fugitive businessman Ilan Shor, who has taken refuge in Russia.

“The Russian Federation helped the citizen Alexandr Nesterovschi to evade imprisonment,” the security service said, denouncing a new “hybrid aggression”.

Three Russian embassy employees were declared personae non gratae by Moldova’s foreign ministry later on Monday.

It said the decision was “based on clear evidence of activities contrary to their diplomatic status”.

Transnistria’s foreign ministry said Monday evening that its law enforcement authorities “have no information about the presence” of Nesterovschi on its territory.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in a statement dismissed what she called “hostile actions” by Moldova, warning of an “appropriate harsh response from the Russian side”.

Pro-EU president Maia Sandu accused the Kremlin of “meddling in Moldovan justice”. Such interference was “unacceptable”, she said in a radio interview. 

Earlier this month, another lawmaker, Irina Lozovan, who is wanted on corruption charges, disappeared. She was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison on Monday over alleged illegal financing of a political party, local media said.

In another case, the governor of Moldova’s pro-Kremlin Gagauzia region, Evghenia Gutul, was detained for illegal campaign financing. Last week, she sought Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s help. 

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Moldova has expelled dozens of diplomats and employees of the Russian embassy, frequently accusing Moscow of meddling in its interests.