Russia imposes entry ban on several Moldovan officials - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax) - Moldovan Ambassador in Moscow Lilian Darii was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, which informed him of a decision to ban a number of Moldovan officials from entering Russia in response to the Moldovan leadership's actions and voiced concern over recent media reports about plans to help train Ukrainian troops in Moldova together with NATO instructors, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"A resolute protest was lodged with the ambassador over Chisinau's unfriendly acts. It was also noted that it they continue, the Russian side retains the right to take additional retaliatory measures," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its website.

"The ambassador was informed of the decision to ban a number of Moldovan officials from entering the territory of the Russian Federation in response to the Moldovan leadership's actions," it said.

"The ambassador was also informed of concerns following media reports of Moldova's plans to help train Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen on Moldovan territory with the participation of instructors from NATO countries," it said.

The ministry pointed to "the unacceptability of such support, which erodes Moldova's neutral status and leads to its direct involvement in hostilities on the side of the Kiev regime."

Such unfriendly acts include politically motivated persecution of Russian and Russian-language media, the ministry said, adding that such steps are at odds with Chisinau's international obligations to protect freedom of speech and journalists' rights.

"The discrimination against Russian citizens entering Moldova has become systemic. Cases of unsubstantiated denials to cross the border have become more frequent. The Moldovan leadership continues to make aggressive anti-Russian statements," the ministry said.

The Moldovan ambassador was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on January 10.