Russia summons Moldovan ambassador for “hostile actions” against election observers

MADRID 6 Nov. () –

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Russian ambassador in Moscow, Lilian Darii, this Wednesday to convey the Kremlin’s complaints regarding alleged “hostile and discriminatory actions” by Chisinau against Russian observers in the Moldovan presidential elections, the second round of which It was held last Sunday.

Russian diplomacy has denounced that before the first round of voting, held on October 20 and when a plebiscite on accession to the European Union was also held, “the Moldovan authorities without motivation denied accreditation to five international observers of Russia”.

Along the same lines, before the second round last weekend, the Moldovan authorities denied entry to three other Russian members of the observation mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) “despite have the accreditation of the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova”, reads a statement from Foreign Affairs.

“Such actions constitute a flagrant violation by Chisinau of its international obligations,” added Russian diplomacy, which emphasizes that these maneuvers contrary to international treaties have been adopted by a candidate country for the European Union, “which characterizes appropriately the European democratic values ​​that Moldovan leaders strive to observe.

Beyond its complaint to Ambassador Darii, the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that its permanent mission to the OSCE in Vienna has also filed a complaint with the organization.

Last weekend, Moldova held the second round of a presidential election in which the liberal Maia Sandu won re-election with just over 55.3 percent of the votes against her rival, the pro-Russian Alexandr Stoianoglo, who has not recognized his defeat. Russia has accused Moldova of allowing itself to be influenced by Western powers and accuses it of taking an anti-Russian course.

Previously, on October 20, the first round of these elections had been held and also a plebiscite to reform the Constitution in order to include issues related to the possible entry of Moldova into the EU. This vote resulted in only 50.38 percent of votes in favor of reforming the Magna Carta, which has aroused criticism from the opposition and also from Moscow.