Russia summons Moldovan envoy over 'discrimination' of observers during presidential election

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Wednesday summoned Moldovan Ambassador Lilian Darii over alleged discrimination against Russian observers during Moldova’s presidential election.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Russian observers were deployed to Moldova as part of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) mission.

Ahead of the first round of voting and a referendum on EU membership on Oct. 20, Moldovan authorities denied accreditation to five Russian international observers without sufficient justification, the ministry said in a statement.

It added that on Nov. 3, just before the second round, three Russian OSCE/ODIHR observers were denied entry at the Chisinau Airport despite having official accreditation from Moldova’s Central Election Commission.

“These actions represent a serious breach of Chisinau's international obligations and call into question the European democratic values the Moldovan leadership claims to uphold,” the statement said.

The ministry added that a similar protest note would be delivered to Moldova through Russia’s Permanent Mission to the OSCE in the Austrian capital Vienna.

The Kremlin on Tuesday said Moldova’s presidential election cannot be regarded as “democratic and fair” due to “widespread manipulation.”