Moldova urged to limit the movement of two diplomats after the visit of Minnikhanov

In Moldova, they called to limit the movement of two employees of the Russian embassy after the head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov was denied entry into the country. This proposal was made by the Prime Minister of the Republic Dorin Rechan.

“Two representatives of the Russian embassy must have their accreditation at the airport revoked. <...> Mr Vice Prime Minister [министр иностранных дел Николай Попеску]see if one of these two deserves [сотрудников] deportation,” said Rechan (quote according to TASS).

Rechan also criticized the People’s Assembly of the Gagauz autonomy for inviting Minnikhanov and other Russians to the international congress of people’s diplomacy “Friendship of Peoples – 2023”. Government spokesman Daniel Voda said that employees of the Russian diplomatic mission would be deprived of special passes to the Chisinau airport for “improper behavior” during the landing of the plane with the Russian delegation.

After that, the head of Gagauzia, Irina Vlakh, said that Tatarstan “supported a lot” the region and criticized Rechan’s position.

“We have been cooperating with Tatarstan for 25 years. <...> We received equipment for hospitals, computers and musical equipment for schools and more. We have good relations with Tatarstan, and they will remain so,” Vlah said.

On April 17, the Moldovan authorities declared Minnikhanov an undesirable person. Then the deputy of the Moldovan parliament, Alexander Sukhodolsky, said that despite the official invitation to the congress “Friendship of Peoples – 2023”, which is being held for the first time in the Moldovan city of Comrat, upon arrival in Chisinau, the head of Tatarstan “was not even allowed to get off the plane” and was handed a document with a refusal to entry.

The congress is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Russian Community of the Republic of Moldova. The event is attended by deputies of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, a deputy of the Parliament of Moldova, representatives of the clergy of Gagauzia and Moldova, heads of national and international public structures, etc. aircraft. During his speech, Sukhodolsky noted that Ivan Yegorov flew with the head of Tatarstan to voice “real economic proposals.”

April 11 Government of Canada added in the sanctions list of 14 individuals and 34 legal entities from Russia. Then Minnikhanov, as well as his wife Gulsina Minnikhanova, turned out to be in it. The next day, April 12, the Russian Foreign Ministry closed entry to 333 Canadian citizens in response.