Moldova has expelled three Russian diplomats after accusing them of helping a pro-Kremlin Moldovan lawmaker, Alexander Nesterovschii, escape imprisonment. The Moldovan government claimed that the Russian Embassy was involved in assisting Nesterovschii, who was scheduled to begin a 12-year sentence for illegal political funding, in fleeing to the Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria.
This expulsion follows heightened tensions between Moldova and Russia, especially regarding Moscow's influence in Moldova's internal politics. Moldovan authorities released footage showing Nesterovschii entering the Russian Embassy on March 18, just one day before his sentencing. The lawmaker, who denies the charges, was allegedly transported across the border to Transnistria in a diplomatic vehicle.
Russia has firmly rejected the accusations, calling them “unfounded” and accusing Moldova of engaging in provocative actions. Moscow has pledged an "appropriate" retaliatory response, although the details of this response have yet to be revealed. The expulsion marks a further deterioration in relations between Moldova’s pro-European government and Russia, particularly as Moldova prepares for parliamentary elections later this year, which will be a key test of the government’s pro-EU orientation.
The diplomatic fallout from the expulsion adds to the growing tensions between Moldova and Russia, with Moldova continuing to seek closer ties with the European Union while distancing itself from Moscow's influence. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the diplomatic standoff will affect Moldova's political trajectory and its relations with Russia and the wider international community.