On April 5, the Romanian authorities, using a fictitious pretext, declared ten Russian diplomats in Bucharest personae non gratae. Simultaneously, the Russian Ambassador was informed of Romania’s position on the crimes committed in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities, for which Russia is held responsible, despite the absence of supporting evidence. 

We resolutely reject this piece of propaganda. We see Romania’s demarche as part of a campaign unleashed by the United States and its European allies to discredit the special military operation that Russia is conducting to protect civilians in Donbass, and demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine.

Because of Bucharest’s actions, our bilateral relations have been at a serious impasse in recent years, while Romania’s hostile actions are yet again putting the basic mechanisms of a civilised intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation in jeopardy. This course of events is not our choice and we deeply regret it.

Clearly, the decision to expel Russian diplomats from Romania will not remain without an appropriate response.