Russia expels Moldovan diplomat

MOSCOW. Aug 6 (Interfax) - Russia is expelling an employee of the Moldovan Embassy in Moscow as a measure of retaliation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"On August 6, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Moldovan Charge d'Affaires ad interim in Russia Alexandru Chetraru to lodge a strong protest against the continuing unfriendly steps towards Russia taken by the authorities in Chisinau," the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

Chetraru was handed the ministry's note that "the Russian side is declaring an employee of the Moldovan Embassy in Russia persona non grata as a response to the Moldovan authorities' completely unsubstantiated decision of August 1 to declare an employee of the Russian Embassy in Moldova persona non grata," the statement said.