U.S. Embassy in Moldova welcomes cabinet's decision to expel three Russian diplomats

Chisinau, 28 March /MOLDPRES/ - The Embassy of the United States in Moldova today welcomed the Moldovan government’s decision to expel three diplomats of the Russian Embassy.  

The U.S. embassy informed that it appreciated the fact that Moldova had acted in solidarity with the United Kingdom, with its allies and neighbours ”in making Russia responsible for its actions, which violate the international law and threatens the European security.”   

“Being in solidarity with its European and international partners, Moldova showed how worried the international community is by Russia’s global campaign of undermining peace and international stability, of threatening the sovereignty and security of the countries from all over the world and of destabilizing and discrediting the western institutions,” reads a press release of the Embassy.   

The officials of the institution noted that the United States were committed to turn Russia more responsible for its 4 March attempt to assassinate a British citizen and his daughter, by using a neurotoxic agent of military use in Salisbury, the UK.     

“This is one of the most recent actions of Russia from its continuous model of destabilizing activities from all over the world. This attack against the United Kingdom endangered innumerable number of lives and resulted in serious injuries for three persons, including a police officer. Russia’s action represents an abusive infringement of the Chemical Weapons Convention and of the international law. Earlier this week, the White House informed about the expulsion of tens intelligence officers who worked in the USA under diplomatic cover and also about the closing of the Russian Consulate from Seattle, Washington. According to the White House, “by these steps, the United States, our allies and partners, clearly shows Russia that its actions have consequences.” The United States is prepared to cooperate to build a better relation with Russia, but this fact can happen only with a change in the behavior of the Russian government,” the communiqué reads.    

Also, the United States asked Russia to assume responsibility for “the continuous infringements of the international norms and show the world that it is capable to observe the international commitments and responsibilities in its capacity of member of the UN Security Council, in order to support the international peace and security”.

The Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry (MAEIE) on 27 March summoned Russia’s Ambassador to Moldova Farit Mukhametshin, who was informed three diplomats of the mission were declared persona non-grata and are obliged to leave Moldova in a seven-day term.    

Following the MAEIE’s announcement, President Igor Dodon criticized the Moldovan authorities’ decision and described it as ”a new anti-Russian provocation.”

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor A. Raileanu)