Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned on Monday that Moldova's "hostile actions" against Russian diplomats will not remain without a response.
"These hostile actions by the Moldovan leadership will not go unanswered by an adequate and tough response from the Russian side," Zakharova said in a statement, insisting that Moldova's decision to expel Russian diplomats is "part of the anti-Russian course."
Earlier in the day, Moldovan authorities declared several Russian diplomats persona non grata, accusing the Russian embassy in Chisinau of helping Alexander Nesterovschii, a pro-Russian lawmaker, escape to the separatist Transdniestria region and avoid being arrested for illegal political funding.