The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that it has decided to expel a diplomat from the Romanian Embassy in Moscow. This action is described as a response to Romania’s earlier decision to declare a Russian embassy employee in Bucharest persona non grata, according to Interfax.
On August 27, the Chargé d’Affaires of Romania in Russia, Liliana Burda, was summoned to the State Protocol Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. During this meeting, she received a note declaring that a staff member of the Romanian Embassy in Moscow had been labeled persona non grata, as stated by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
The ministry emphasized that this measure is a direct response to what it termed the unfounded actions of the Romanian authorities regarding the Russian diplomat’s status.
Romanian Representative Summoned in Response to Drone Incidents
Burda had been called to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, a fact later confirmed by the Romanian Foreign Ministry.
“We assume that this summons is a reaction to the diplomatic measures adopted by Romania in response to a series of incidents involving drones resulting from Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine,” said the Romanian Ministry on Wednesday.
Romania’s Previous Diplomatic Measures Against Russia
In July, Romania expelled a Russian diplomat following the downing of three unmanned aerial vehicles in Romanian airspace over three days. This expulsion decision came on July 27, coinciding with Romania calling back its ambassador to Moscow, Cristian Istrate, for consultations.
Following these events, Russian diplomacy issued several threats towards Romania.
Warning from Maria Zakharova
The Russian Embassy in Bucharest previously disseminated statements from Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, regarding alleged violations of Romanian airspace by Russian drones. “We reject these new unfounded claims,” she stated.
Zakharova also accused Romania of staging incidents and running a propaganda campaign to distract from the consequences of its irresponsible support for the regime in Kyiv. She concluded her message by declaring that “the unfriendly actions of Bucharest will not go unanswered.”
Russia Will Not Withdraw Its Ambassador from Romania
In August, Aleksei Fadeev, Deputy Director of the Communications Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, indicated that Russia would not recall its ambassador from Romania for consultations. He stated that the expulsion of a Russian diplomat by Bucharest would receive an appropriate response.
“We reject the claims made by the Romanian side. We see no reason to mimic the theatrical gestures of others. We do not intend to withdraw our ambassador from Bucharest for consultations,” he remarked.
Fadeev added that the consequences of the expulsion of the Russian diplomat from Romania would certainly receive an adequate response at a time and in a manner that the Russian Foreign Ministry deems appropriate and optimal.
