Russia Summons Moldova Ambassador Over Rogozin Becoming Persona Non-Grata

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it had summoned the Moldovan ambassador to the country over the country’s government’s decision to declare Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin persona non-grata.

“On June 2, Moldovan ambassador Andrei Neguta was invited to the Russian Froreign Ministry. The secretary of state, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoriy Karasin, expressed to him a strong protest in connection with the decision of the Moldovan government to declare Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin persona non-grata,” the ministry said in a statement.

Rogozin was scheduled to meet with Moldovan President Igor Dodon last week, however his meeting was derailed. Romania refused to allow a Russian plane bound for Chisinau to enter its airspace because the deputy prime minister, who is on a sanctions list, was on board. Rogozin called this decision an "unfriendly move against the Moldovan president." The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday expressed strong protest to Romania in connection with the ban.

The Russian deputy prime minister was included in the EU sanctions list over his alleged involvement in undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in the crisis in Ukraine.