Russia summons Moldovan ambassador over detention of diplomatic couriers

Moscow, June 26 (IANS) Moldovan Ambassador to Russia Lilian Darii was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday, where the ministry lodged a resolute protest over the “unlawful detention” of Russian diplomatic couriers at the airport of the Moldovan capital a day earlier.

The ministry said in a statement that the detention constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Also, the ministry noted that the couriers were unlawfully demanded to allow inspection of diplomatic correspondence and to “voluntarily” surrender mobile phones on Thursday. Diplomatic staff of the Russian Embassy in Moldova were also denied access to the eligible area of the airport and could not provide necessary consular assistance.

Despite having notified the Moldovan side in advance of their arrival, the diplomatic couriers were unable to enter the territory of the country and were forced to return to Russia, the ministry added.

Bilateral ties between Russia and Moldova have deteriorated since late 2020 amid shifts in Moldova’s foreign policy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently said that Moldova is evolving into an unfriendly state toward Russia.

On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry had summoned Romanian Ambassador Cristian Istrate to formally inform Bucharest regarding the retaliatory measures over the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Constanta.

“Romania’s ambassador has been called to the Russian Foreign Ministry to be notified of Moscow’s response to the closure of its consulate in Constanta,” Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

According to the Ministry, the Ambassador was presented with a note declaring the Consul General of Romania in St. Petersburg persona non grata and the upcoming closure of the consular office.

“This measure is a response to Bucharest’s unfounded revocation of consent for the operation of the Russian Consulate General in Constanta and the declaration of its director as persona non grata,” noted the Ministry.

–IANS

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