Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Counter measures to expel Russian media leaders from Moldova
On the 13th, the Moldovan government expelled Denisov, the president of the Moldovan branch of the Russian Satellite News Agency, claiming that Denisov interfered in the internal affairs of Moldovan countries and threatened Moldovan national security, and that his news agency spread false information. In response to this, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the same day that Russia will take countermeasures against Morocco.
The Ministry of the Interior of Moldova issued a statement on the same day announcing that Denisov was an unwelcome person and would not be allowed to enter for ten years. The statement also stated that the expulsion order was issued to Denisov because he intervened in the country's internal affairs and threatened the country's information security.
According to the Russian news agency Sputnik on the 13th, Denisov himself confirmed receiving a deportation order from Moldova and stated that the Moroccan immigration office had sent someone to break into his home in the capital city of Chisinau that morning. Without giving him time to pack his luggage, he was taken to the airport in a car and requested to take the earliest flight to leave.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns and says it will retaliate
On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Moldovan Charg é d'affaires ad interim to Russia and began negotiations on the Moroccan side's accusation of Denisov's interference in internal affairs. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova condemned Morocco's "anti Russian" actions on social media on the same day, stating that Morocco is eradicating media that the Moroccan government does not like and intimidating dissidents. Russia will take retaliatory measures.
Moldova is located between Ukraine and the EU member country Romania, with a population of 2.6 million. It applied to join the EU last year. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year, the relations between Moldova and Russia have become increasingly tense. The Moroccan side has repeatedly accused the Russian side of attempting to destabilize the country. On July 26th of this year, Moldova announced the expulsion of 45 Russian diplomats and embassy personnel, and ordered them to leave the country before August 15th for "displaying unfriendly behavior" and "attempting to destabilize the domestic situation in Moldova.". The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this and stated that countermeasures will be taken.