Moldova declared Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin persona no grata on August 2, following the latter’s “offensive statements” about the Moldovan authorities. 

The move signals a further deterioration of relations between the Moldovan government and Russia. Last week, Rogozin was unable to attend the ceremonies dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the peacekeeping operation in the breakaway territory of Transnistria after the plane he was in was denied passage over neighbouring Romania. Chisinau had already denied overflight rights to his military jet, forcing him to attempt the journey on a commercial jet. 

Moldova’s government is pro-EU, but pro-Russian President Igor Dodon has been trying to strengthen the country’s relations with Moscow ever since he took office last year.

On August 2, the Russian ambassador to Moldova was summoned to the Moldovan foreign ministry and was informed about Rogozin's recent interview with a Russian TV channel in which he made defamatory remarks about Moldova.

“In addition, the Russian deputy prime minister made insulting appreciations of the authorities of our country,” the Moldovan foreign ministry said.

“Unfortunately, the Russian deputy prime minister is not in his first public appearance of this kind, which cannot be qualified otherwise than a brutal interference in the domestic affairs of our state,” the ministry added.

Rogozin will be banned from entering or transiting the territory of Moldova.

The Russian foreign ministry showed its indignation and called the decision “irresponsible steps of Chisinau aimed at deliberately undermining bilateral Russian-Moldovan relations.

“We must draw attention to the fact that such dangerous actions can have a serious destabilising influence on the overall situation in the region and in Europe as a whole,” the ministry said in a statement.

In May, the Moldovan foreign ministry expelled five Russian diplomats, a move which was harshly criticised both by both Dodon, who called it “outrageous”, and by Moscow.

More recently, the Moldovan authorities also denied access to the country to a Russian MP and a group of artists who were going to take part in the ceremonies in Transnistria.