Moldova has expelled three Russian diplomats after accusing the embassy of helping a pro-Kremlin lawmaker escape imprisonment, triggering Russia’s promise of an “appropriate response.”
Moldova’s Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion Monday via Telegram, citing “clear evidence on the conduct of activities contrary to the diplomatic status.” Moscow swiftly declared it would retaliate, according to state-run news agency RIA Novosti.
The diplomatic tension escalated after Moldova accused the Russian Embassy of orchestrating pro-Kremlin Moldovan lawmaker Alexander Nesterovschii’s escape to the Russian-backed breakaway Transnistria region just before he was to be jailed on illegal political funding charges.
This incident represents the latest in a series of allegations by Moldova’s pro-European government claiming Russian interference in its political affairs, which Moscow consistently denies.
Moldova’s security service released footage allegedly showing Nesterovschii entering the Russian Embassy in Chisinau on March 18, one day before a court sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment. The security service claims that on his sentencing day, Nesterovschii was transported in a white diplomatic-plated vehicle to Transnistria, a region that separated from Moldovan control in the early 1990s.
Nesterovschii has denied charges of illegally channeling funds to a pro-Russian party linked to fugitive businessman Ilan Shor during local elections in 2023, as well as the 2024 presidential vote and referendum on Moldova’s EU aspirations.
The Russian Embassy issued a statement calling the interference allegations “unfounded and unacceptable” and urged Moldovan authorities to “refrain from provocative speculation.”
According to RIA Novosti, Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov stated that among the expelled diplomats was the co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission, a peacekeeping force that has overseen the Transnistria region since 1992.
Moldova faces a parliamentary election this autumn that will test the pro-EU government’s popularity.
On Monday, foreign ministers from Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Poland, along with the EU’s top diplomat and defense commissioner, announced readiness to adopt new sanctions against Russia over “its war of aggression” in Ukraine.
About the author
Iranian Currency Crashes To One Million Rial Per Dollar As Trump Pressures Tehran
Iran's rial has plunged to unprecedented lows against the US dollar amid escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear program. The exchange rate initially dropped below 1 million rials during the Persian New Year (Nowruz) celebrations when currency shops closed, forcing informal street trading that added pressure to the market. When traders resumed operations Saturday, the rate declined further to 1,043,000 rials per dollar. Some Tehran merchants even turned off electronic rate displays as uncertainty grew about how much lower the currency might fall. International sanctions have severely impacted Iran's economy, particularly since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers in 2018. After returning to the White House in January for his second term, Trump revived his "maximum pressure" campaign, targeting Tehran with sanctions and pursuing companies trading Iranian oil, including those selling discounted crude to China. […]
Meta and Pinterest Secretly Donate To Teen Suicide Victim Charity
Instagram owner Meta and Pinterest have made substantial donations to the charity established in memory of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old who took her own life in 2017 after viewing suicide and self-harm content on their platforms. A coroner determined that online material contributed to her death. The donations went to the Molly Rose Foundation, which advocates for internet safety. Both companies declined to comment when approached by the BBC. Molly's family stated they decided against legal action and would "never accept compensation" for her death. Through their solicitor, they explained they would "pursue the aims we share with Meta and Pinterest through the Molly Rose Foundation to help ensure young people have a positive experience online." Meanwhile, Meta faces multiple lawsuits in the US from families claiming their children were harmed by social media, with attorneys general from over 40 […]
Kevin De Bruyne To Leave Man City At End of Current Season
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will depart the club when the current season ends. The 33-year-old Belgian star, who joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015, has amassed an impressive collection of 14 major trophies during his time at the club, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. "Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first," De Bruyne announced in a social media statement on Friday. "Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people … gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And […]
Mbappé and Rudiger Hit With Fines After “Indecent” Victory Celebration
Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger have received fines from UEFA but avoided suspensions for the Champions League quarterfinals following "indecent" celebrations after their previous match. UEFA announced Friday that both players were issued one-game bans for "violating the basic rules of decent conduct," with each subject to a one-year probationary period. The disciplinary action means Madrid's stars remain eligible for Tuesday's upcoming quarterfinal match at Arsenal. The charges stemmed from Madrid players' celebrations following their penalty shootout victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 on March 12. Social media video clips showed Mbappe grabbing his crotch on the field during the celebrations. In its ruling, UEFA fined Rudiger 40,000 euros ($44,000) and Mbappe 30,000 euros ($33,000). A third Madrid player, Dani Ceballos, received a 20,000 euro ($22,000) fine without a suspended ban. UEFA […]
Hungary Quits Global Court Hours Before Netanyahu Visit Defying Arrest Warrant
Hungary's government has announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) just before Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant. "Hungary exits the International Criminal Court. The government will initiate the withdrawal procedure on Thursday, in accordance with the constitutional and international legal framework," Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, posted on Facebook on Thursday. Orban had previously suggested Hungary might leave the ICC after United States President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the court's prosecutor, Karim Khan, in February. "It's time for Hungary to review what we're doing in an international organisation that is under US sanctions," Orban stated on X at that time. The withdrawal legislation is expected to pass easily through Hungary's parliament, which is controlled by Orban's Fidesz party. The ICC has not yet responded to […]
Trump Tariff Bombshell Triggers Global Market Panic As Gold Hits Record High
Global stock markets tumbled Thursday as investors reacted to President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff announcements, with the UK's FTSE 100 dropping 1.5% alongside other declining European markets, following earlier falls across Asia. While stocks retreated, gold prices reached a record high of $3,167.57 per ounce as investors sought safety amid growing economic uncertainty. Traders expressed concern that Trump's tariffs could fuel inflation and hamper global growth. Asian markets fell sharply following Trump's announcement, with Japan's Nikkei closing down nearly 3% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropping 1.5%. European indexes followed suit, with Germany's Dax falling 2.2% and France's Cac 40 declining 2.5%. US markets were also projected to open significantly lower, with futures indicating a 3% drop for the S&P 500 and 2.4% for the Dow Jones. The US government's decision to impose a 10% baseline tariff plus higher duties […]
Related
Police Shoot Suspect After Four Children Stabbed in Brooklyn Home
Four children were seriously injured in a stabbing attack inside a Brooklyn home on Sunday morning, with police shooting the suspected attacker. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that officers shot a man who had slashed four children with a meat cleaver at a residence in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Police received a call around 10:15 a.m. about an assault in progress at 1671 84th Street. The 11-year-old caller reported that she and her siblings had been stabbed by their uncle. Though the child didn't know her address, police technicians located it using available technology. Upon arrival, officers were let into the residence by an uninjured child and heard screams behind a door. After forcing entry, they encountered a man holding "a large meat cleaver covered in blood" with visible blood on the floors and walls. The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Longqian Chen, […]
Nigeria to Launch Calabar Section of Coastal Highway April 14, Connecting to Sokoto-Badagry Route
Nigeria's Federal Government will officially commence construction on the Calabar section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway on April 14, addressing concerns that development has been limited to the Lagos area. During an ARISE News interview on Sunday, Minister of Works Dave Umahi announced a series of launch events: April 14 in Calabar (Cross River), April 15 in Akwa Ibom, and April 16 in Ebonyi State. "By the 14th of this month, we are going to be flagging off the construction in the Calabar axis," Umahi stated, rejecting claims that work was only happening in Lagos. "No, that is not a fact. We are working right now in Calabar and Akwa Ibom," he emphasized. The minister described another of President Tinubu's legacy projects that will connect Calabar with Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and ultimately Abuja—part of a Trans-Sahara route designed to […]
Iranian Currency Crashes To One Million Rial Per Dollar As Trump Pressures Tehran
Iran's rial has plunged to unprecedented lows against the US dollar amid escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear program. The exchange rate initially dropped below 1 million rials during the Persian New Year (Nowruz) celebrations when currency shops closed, forcing informal street trading that added pressure to the market. When traders resumed operations Saturday, the rate declined further to 1,043,000 rials per dollar. Some Tehran merchants even turned off electronic rate displays as uncertainty grew about how much lower the currency might fall. International sanctions have severely impacted Iran's economy, particularly since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers in 2018. After returning to the White House in January for his second term, Trump revived his "maximum pressure" campaign, targeting Tehran with sanctions and pursuing companies trading Iranian oil, including those selling discounted crude to China. […]
Meta and Pinterest Secretly Donate To Teen Suicide Victim Charity
Instagram owner Meta and Pinterest have made substantial donations to the charity established in memory of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old who took her own life in 2017 after viewing suicide and self-harm content on their platforms. A coroner determined that online material contributed to her death. The donations went to the Molly Rose Foundation, which advocates for internet safety. Both companies declined to comment when approached by the BBC. Molly's family stated they decided against legal action and would "never accept compensation" for her death. Through their solicitor, they explained they would "pursue the aims we share with Meta and Pinterest through the Molly Rose Foundation to help ensure young people have a positive experience online." Meanwhile, Meta faces multiple lawsuits in the US from families claiming their children were harmed by social media, with attorneys general from over 40 […]
Kevin De Bruyne To Leave Man City At End of Current Season
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will depart the club when the current season ends. The 33-year-old Belgian star, who joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015, has amassed an impressive collection of 14 major trophies during his time at the club, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. "Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first," De Bruyne announced in a social media statement on Friday. "Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people … gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And […]
Mbappé and Rudiger Hit With Fines After “Indecent” Victory Celebration
Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger have received fines from UEFA but avoided suspensions for the Champions League quarterfinals following "indecent" celebrations after their previous match. UEFA announced Friday that both players were issued one-game bans for "violating the basic rules of decent conduct," with each subject to a one-year probationary period. The disciplinary action means Madrid's stars remain eligible for Tuesday's upcoming quarterfinal match at Arsenal. The charges stemmed from Madrid players' celebrations following their penalty shootout victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 on March 12. Social media video clips showed Mbappe grabbing his crotch on the field during the celebrations. In its ruling, UEFA fined Rudiger 40,000 euros ($44,000) and Mbappe 30,000 euros ($33,000). A third Madrid player, Dani Ceballos, received a 20,000 euro ($22,000) fine without a suspended ban. UEFA […]
Be the first to leave a comment