Ballot boxes were set up in Moldova without government permission: Russian diplomat expelled

Moldova has announced the expulsion of a Russian diplomat after Russia set up ballot boxes and held elections in Transnistria for its presidential election, despite not being granted permission.

The establishment of ballot boxes for the Russian presidential election in Moldova's pro-Russian separatist Transnistria region has brought the two countries into conflict. Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi stated that Russian Ambassador Oleg Vasnetov was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the matter.

Minister Popșoi reported that a protest note was delivered to Ambassador Vasnetov concerning the establishment of ballot boxes in the Transnistria region.

Popșoi also added that a diplomat from the Russian Embassy in Chisinau had been declared persona non grata. A written statement from the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that the unnamed Russian diplomat had been declared persona non grata and expelled.

In a statement from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was emphasized that there would be a response to Chisinau's expulsion decision.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Moldovan administration had not accepted the establishment of any ballot boxes for the presidential election held in Russia outside of the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. However, 6 polling stations were set up in the separatist Transnistria region, where more than 250 thousand Russian citizens live.
Transnistria had declared its unilateral independence with the support of Russia following Moldova's separation from the Soviet Union in 1991.