Moldova declares Russian deputy PM persona non grata

By Sibel Ugurlu

BUCHAREST (AA) – Moldova has declared Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin persona non grata due to his recent statements to a state-owned Russian news channel.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said Rogozin made “defamatory criticisms of the Republic of Moldova and, implicitly, of the citizens of our country” in an interview to Rossiya 24.

“In addition, the Russian deputy prime minister made insulting appreciations of the authorities of our country, which have a denigrating and a lying character,” the statement added.

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova Farit Muhametshin was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to be informed about the decision.