The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova is to declare persona non-grata three diplomats of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, after the director of the Security and Intelligence Service Alexandru Musteața revealed that the diplomatic mission, under the coordination of the Russian intelligence services, helped MP Alexandr Nesterovski, sentenced to 12 years in prison, to take refuge in the Transnistrian region, IPN reports, citing diplomatic sources. 

IPN's interlocutors said that at the moment, the Moldovan diplomatic service is considering when Ambassador Oleg Ozerov can be summoned to the MFA in order to be issued with a protest note regarding the involvement of the Russian diplomatic mission in the case involving MP Nesterovski. The information has not yet been verified or officially confirmed.

Other sources from the law enforcement agencies, who wished to remain anonymous, told IPN that they are aware of the fact that the MFA in Chisinau is expected to declare several people from the Russian Embassy undesirable, but said they do not know the exact number of them.

If these three diplomats are declared persona non-grata, the Embassy of the Russian Federation will remain with 6 diplomats in Chisinau and 15 technical staff.

The last Russian diplomat to be expelled from Moldova was Dmitry Kelov, accused by the Moldovan authorities of carrying out "activities incompatible with his diplomatic status". His expulsion came immediately after searches conducted in the Parliament Building and at the Border Police. Now two employees of these institutions are on trial for treason and conspiracy.