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Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has declared three employees of the Russian embassy in Chișinău persona non grata. They will be expelled from the country in the near future, the ministry announced earlier today, adding that the decision was the result of them carrying out activities “contrary to [their] diplomatic status.”
Following the expulsion, only six Russian diplomats and around 15 technical staff members will remain at the embassy in Moldova. Law enforcement agencies note that the final number of Russian personnel set to be expelled has not yet been officially determined.
The move comes in response to the escape of Alexandr Nesterovschi, a Moldovan lawmaker who on March 19 was sentenced to 12 years in prison for corruption and the illegal financing of political parties. On the day of the sentencing, Russian media reported that President Vladimir Putin had granted Nesterovschi Russian citizenship. Nesterovschi fled justice just before the verdict was handed down.
According to a report by Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service (SIS), Nesterovschi entered the premises of the Russian embassy in Chișinău on March 18. The following day, he was transported to the breakaway region of Transnistria in a minibus bearing Russian diplomatic plates. SIS director Alexandru Musteață published surveillance footage showing the vehicle crossing an internal checkpoint in Gura Bîcului without presenting any documents.
“We have confirmed information that Russia helped Alexandr Nesterovschi avoid being taken into custody. These actions are part of the mechanism of hybrid aggression against Moldova, which the security service has repeatedly warned about,” local publication Newsmaker quoted Musteață as saying.
Musteață claims Nesterovschi is now in Tiraspol, under the protection of Russian security services. Moldova’s Chief of Police, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, also said there is reason to believe that another MP, Irina Lozovan, is hiding in Transnistria alongside Nesterovschi. Lozovan is accused of illegally financing the “Renaissance” party, which is linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.
This is not the first time a Russian citizen bearing diplomatic credentials has been deemed persona non grata in Moldova. In August 2024, Dmitry Kelov was expelled for actions deemed incompatible with his status as a Russian diplomat.