Russia’s MFA summons Moldovan ambassador over election observer discrimination

Ambassador of Moldova to Russia Lilian Darii has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. 

A strong protest was lodged in response to Chisinau's discriminatory and unfriendly actions towards Russian observers involved in the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) monitoring mission during the presidential election, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

"On November 6, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Russian Federation Lilian Darii was summoned to the ministry. The ambassador was formally presented with a strong protest regarding the discriminatory and unfriendly actions of the Moldovan authorities towards Russian short-term observers participating in the ODIHR/OSCE election monitoring mission during the presidential election in Moldova," the ministry said.  

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasised that prior to the first round of voting and the constitutional referendum on EU membership held on October 20, Moldovan authorities unjustifiably refused to accredit five international observers from Russia.

Furthermore, ahead of the second round on November 3, three Russian members of the OSCE/ODIHR mission were denied entry to Moldova at Chisinau Airport, despite having accreditation from the Moldovan Central Election Commission.  

The Russian ministry noted that such actions represent a flagrant violation by Chisinau of its international obligations, particularly those outlined in the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document and the 2002 CIS Convention on Democratic Election Standards, Electoral Rights, and Freedoms, both of which Moldova is a party to. 

"These steps were taken by a country that is a candidate for EU membership, which thus reflects the commitment of Moldova’s leadership to European democratic values, which it claims to uphold," the ministry added.

"A similar protest regarding the outrageous actions of the Moldovan authorities toward international observers from Russia has been made to the leadership of the OSCE/ODIHR via the Permanent Mission of Russia to the OSCE in Vienna," the ministry said.

Moldova's incumbent President Maia Sandu has emerged in the lead against her opponent in presidential runoff.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Moldova reported that Sandu has secured just over 52 per cent of the votes, while Alexandr Stoianoglo, the former prosecutor general, has garnered nearly 48 per cent, with more than 95 per cent of ballots counted.

By Naila Huseynova