CHISINAU. April 17 (Interfax) - Moldovan authorities have declared the head of Russia's internal republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, an "undesirable individual" and banned him from entering the country.
"Unfortunately, the Moldovan authorities have decided that we are undesirable individuals who cannot visit the country," Minnikhanov said in a video recorded on a plane that landed at Chisinau Airport on Sunday and which was published on the Mash Telegram channel.
He said he had traveled there for the Friendship of Peoples 2023 international congress for popular diplomacy, which is scheduled to take place in the Gagauzia autonomous region. Minnikhanov said he had received an invitation from a Moldovan MP from the Socialist Party, Alexandru Sukhodolsky, and from Victor Petrov, who is a candidate in the election for Gagauzia's governor.
"We were not allowed to leave the plane, having been told that our presence in Moldova is undesirable. See you in Tatarstan. Tatarstan is always waiting for you, we will be sincerely happy to welcome you to our capital. The Tatar people and the Gagauz people are brothers [...] and we have great plans for helping each other in our future development," Minnikhanov said.
Raisa Novitchi, spokesperson for the Moldovan Border Police, told journalists that the Tatar delegation's arrival had not been coordinated with the Moldovan authorities, and that the Gagauz regional administration was not planning to hold an international forum.
A campaign is currently underway in Gagauzia to elect the region's new governor. It is scheduled to take place on April 30. Eight candidates are running for the position. Each of them is trying to enlist the support of Russian politicians, as Gagauzia favors rapprochement with Russia.