5 Russian diplomats in Moldova declared persona non grata

BUCHAREST -- Five Russian diplomats in Moldova were declared persona non grata on Monday, according to news reaching here from Moldova's capital city of Chisinau.

The diplomats have 72 hours to leave the territory of Moldova, local media reported, citing Artur Sarbu, adviser to Foreign Minister Andrei Galbur.

The Chisinau authorities did not explain the reasons for the sudden expulsion.

The action took place less than a week after Estonia last Friday expelled Russian Consul General in Narva Dmitry Kazennov and Consul Andrey Surgaev under similar unexplained circumstances.

Moldova's President Igor Dodon categorically condemned the steps taken by the government, saying the move was "most likely made on an order from the West."

"I want to state that I am deeply indignant at this unfriendly step on the part of representatives of Moldovan diplomacy and categorically condemn it," said the president.

"I understand that the Euro-unionists are irritated by the President's successes achieved in recent months and decided to go on direct provocations that carry the risk of a significant deterioration in Moldovan-Russian relations," Dodon was quoted by local Accent TV as saying.

"I also understand that this is most likely done on an order from the West, maybe even from across the ocean, from those who are concerned that a constructive and effective dialogue has been reached between the Presidency and the Kremlin," he added.

Dodon was elected president last November and has visited Moscow three times already in his first half of year of presidency.

According to him, many problems were solved especially regarding the export of Moldovan products and migrants during his visits to Russia.

He stressed that restoring full-fledged ties with Russia, his "priority goal as head of state," will have a positive impact on the economy of Moldova, and hundreds of thousands of farmers and migrant workers.