Russia says Moldova targeting its citizens, issues travel advisory

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has issued a strong advisory urging Russian citizens to avoid travelling to Moldova, citing what it describes as numerous documented cases of harassment and rights violations by Moldovan authorities.

In its statement, the ministry outlined a series of incidents involving Russian nationals arriving at Chisinau Airport.

According to the ministry, passengers from Russia are frequently subjected to degrading searches and intrusive security checks upon arrival. It added that Russian travellers are often confined to the airport’s transit zone without access to outside communication or contact with family members.

The ministry reported several cases in which Russian citizens were kept at the airport for more than forty-eight hours before ultimately being denied entry into Moldova. It further stated that outbound passengers encounter artificially prolonged inspections at departure, resulting in missed flights. The Foreign Ministry also pointed to instances where Russian nationals have faced criminal charges in Moldova without sufficient evidence to justify prosecution.

According to the statement, Moldovan authorities have repeatedly refused to allow consular staff from the Russian Embassy access to detained or questioned Russian citizens. Requests filed by Russian diplomats are reportedly ignored, making it effectively impossible, the ministry said, to provide consular assistance to affected individuals.

Given these circumstances, the Russian Foreign Ministry concluded that Russian citizens should refrain from travelling to Moldova until the situation changes.

By Tamilla Hasanova