Russia Summons Moldovan Ambassador, Protests Alleged Violation of Vienna Convention

Moscow — Russia has summoned Moldova’s Ambassador Lilian Darii to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a strong protest. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Moldovan ambassador was summoned on June 26 and handed a note verbale over what Moscow described as a gross violation of the fundamental provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The Russian side said that on June 25, diplomatic couriers of the Russian Foreign Ministry were detained for several hours at Chisinau airport. Moscow alleged that they were presented with unlawful and unacceptable demands to inspect diplomatic correspondence and to “voluntarily” hand over their mobile communication devices.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Moldova were denied access to the restricted area of the airport. According to Moscow, the diplomats had sought to provide consular assistance to Russian Foreign Ministry officials who had arrived there.

Russia said Moldova had been notified in advance about the arrival of the diplomatic couriers. However, following the incident, the couriers were unable to enter Moldovan territory and were forced to return home, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Moscow described the incident as a serious violation of Article 27 of the 1961 Vienna Convention. The article states that diplomatic couriers shall enjoy personal inviolability and shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. It also provides that the diplomatic bag shall not be opened or detained.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moldova’s actions were contrary to diplomatic norms and international legal obligations, and expressed strong objection to the incident.