Corruption arrests rock Moldova’s pro-EU coalition / Moldova foreign ministry expels five Russian diplomats

One of the parties in Moldova's two-party coalition, the Liberal Democrats, withdrew from the governing coalition on the 26 May 2017 in protest at the arrest of Chișinău mayor and Liberal deputy chairman, Dorin Chirtoacă. On the 29 May 2017 the Liberal Democrat Environment Minister Valeriu Munteanu resigned from the government, and others were expected to follow, a step likely to bring more uncertainty to the troubled country

Separately, the pro-European Moldovan Government expelled five Russian diplomats on the 29 May 2017. The pro-Russian President of Moldova Igor Dodon said 'The government has taken an outrageous step regarding our strategic partner, Russia'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Moldova fails to back new government http://www.europeansources.info/record/moldova-fails-to-back-new-government/

ESO: Background information: Moldova’s Proposed Electoral Change Is a Blow to Democracy. The EU Must Oppose It. [Chatham House: Expert Comment, May 2017] http://www.europeansources.info/record/moldovas-proposed-electoral-change-is-a-blow-to-democracy-the-eu-must-oppose-it/

EurActiv, 30.05.17: Moldovan president furious as government expels five Russian diplomats http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/moldova-government-expels-five-russian-diplomats-president-furious/

ESO: Background information: Moldovan President Dodon and the Russian role model http://www.europeansources.info/record/moldovan-president-dodon-and-the-russian-role-model/

Deutsche Welle, 30.05.17: Moldova foreign ministry expels five Russian diplomats http://p.dw.com/p/2dnQO

---