MFA EXPRESSES PROTEST TO RUSSIA AGAINST SITUATION AROUND MOLDOVAN PILOTS

On Wednesday, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova, Oleg Vasnetsov, was invited to the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration where a Note of Protest was handed in to him saying that Moldovan diplomats in Moscow would not be permitted to meet with the two Moldovan helicopter pilots released from captivity in Afghanistan yet last Saturday and delivered to Moscow on February 11.

The Ministry expressed surprise that "in defiance of the international law norms, fixed in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and contrary to the Russia-Moldova Consular Agreement, the Russian Federation authorities would not provide access to the Moldova citizens for the official delegation members, and are refusing to tell the pilots' whereabouts and health condition".

The Moldovan foreign ministry has perceived such a behavior of the Russian authorities as "a deliberate provocation inflicting a serious damage to our bilateral relations".

The Ministry expressed its concern to Ambassador Vasnetsov that "this situation may become dramatic, with impermissible political consequences, which certain political figures in Moldova may try and use in their political interests".

According to the ministerial press release, the Russian Ambassador said during the meeting that the liberated Moldovan pilots are remaining in Moscow under the care of a non-governmental organization, and that the Russian Government is not involved into this process.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that in the future it will be informing international organizations in connection with the prohibition for Chisinau officials to get an access to the Moldova citizens in Moscow.

According to the Ministry, on the Government's request the Ministry's Secretary General Mihai Capatina and the Chief Physician of the State Chancellery Office Eugen Vasiliev flew to Moscow urgently on February 11 evening. Upon learning that liberated pilots Lionel (Ion) Buruiana and Mihai Crihan had been successfully delivered from Afghanistan to Moscow, the Moldovan governmental officials were requested to render necessary assistance and start in Moscow the paper and other procedures for bringing the pilots back home.