The Moldovan government will kick out 45 Russian diplomats over the next month.
Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu announced Wednesday that he will cut the number of Russian envoys in the Moldovan capital of Chișinău so that there are “fewer individuals acting to destabilize the situation in our country,” reported local news outlets.
“This decision comes as a result of numerous unfriendly actions toward the Republic of Moldova, unrelated to diplomatic duties, as well as attempts to destabilize the internal situation in our country,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.
The decision comes shortly after an investigation by The Insider and Moldovan television channel Jurnal TV earlier this week noted that the number of satellite dishes and communication devices on top of the Russian embassy in Chișinău has been growing. The report found that there are currently 28 dishes, masts, and transmitting and receiving devices installed on the embassy and on a neighboring building. Following the report, the Moldovan foreign ministry said it would summon the Russian ambassador for an explanation.
The number of diplomats and employees working at the Russian embassy in the country’s capital will be limited to 10 diplomats and 15 administrative, technical and service positions, according to the ministry. Russia will have until August 15 to implement the decision. In total, 45 members of the embassy staff will be asked to leave, including 22 diplomats and 23 administrative staff, reported Moldovan news agency Deschide.MD.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said during a press briefing that the decision was a “step toward the destruction of bilateral relations,” that will “not go unanswered,” according to multiple news outlets.
Moldova, a small ex-Soviet country of around 2.5 million people located between Romania and Ukraine, has been facing mounting political pressure from Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The country’s President Maia Sandu said earlier this year that Russia was planning to stage a coup in Moldova. In March, the White House expressed concerns that Russia was attempting to “destabilize” Moldova and “weaken” its government. Soon after, Moldovan police said they had arrested a group of men with ties to Russia who were scheming to whip up unrest at anti-government protests in Moldova.