Russia expels Moldovan diplomat in tit-for-tat move

MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday expelled a Moldovan diplomat following a similar measure by Chisinau in October after a drone it claimed was Russian crashed in the east European nation flanking Ukraine.

The Russian foreign ministry said that it was “on the basis of the principle of reciprocity... declaring a member of the Moldovan embassy in Russia undesirable.”

Moldovan ambassador Lilian Darii was summoned and informed of the decision, it said.

At the end of October, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said a “Russian attack drone” had violated the country’s airspace and “crashed near homes and an energy facility.”

She then declared a staff member of the Russian embassy persona non grata.