The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation issued a press commentary stating that the hostile actions of the Moldovan authorities will not remain without a proper firm response. Moscow's reaction comes after Chisinau decided to expel three employees of the Embassy of Russia in the Republic of Moldova, IPN reports.

"The Moldovan authorities’ unjustified decision to expel our diplomats is part of the anti-Russian policy pursued by Chisinau, which shamefully set the goal of fully destroying Russian-Moldovan relations, which have deep historical roots, contrary to the feelings of the majority of citizens of the Republic," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

According to her, the Embassy of Russia in Chisinau acts in strict compliance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and does not interfere in the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova.

The director of the Security and Intelligence Service Alexandru Musteața on Monday said that the Russian Federation helped MP Alexandr Nesterovski, who was recently sentenced to 12 years behind bars, to evade prison. A day before the sentence was pronounced, he entered the precincts of the Embassy of Russia in Chisinau, and was then transported by a vehicle with a diplomatic license plate to the Transnistrian region, where he is now, under the direct protection of the Russian intelligence services.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov with a note informing that three employees of the Embassy of Russia were declared personae non gratae. The Moldovan authorities’ decision is based on clear evidence of the conduct of activities contrary to the diplomatic status on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. Those diplomats are to leave the country.