CHISINAU. Aug 14 (Interfax) - A large group of diplomats and technicians from the Russian embassy to Moldova departed Chisinau on Monday morning, spokesman for the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Zaharov said.
The ministry decided a month ago to cap the personnel of the Russian embassy. Twenty-two diplomats and 23 technicians and their families were due to leave Chisinau. All of them must leave Moldova before August 15, the ministry said, adding that the Russian embassy must have no more than ten diplomats and 15 technicians remaining.
The Russian embassy employees departed on a special flight, with no members of the press allowed at the airport.
The Russian embassy to Chisinau said in late July that its consular department would suspend operation from August 5 "for technical reasons." Operations of the Russian Science and Culture Center are also limited, as there is only one Russian diplomat left there.