Romania Expels Two Russian Diplomats for Breaching Protocol

Romania has expelled two Russian diplomats, military attaché Victor Makovskiy and his deputy Evgeny Ignatiev, citing breaches of diplomatic conduct under the 1961 Vienna Convention. This decision, announced on March 5, is linked to allegations of Russian interference in Romania's electoral process, particularly concerning pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, who recently faced a criminal investigation. The Romanian Foreign Ministry described the expulsion as an exceptional measure, while the Russian embassy condemned it as unfounded and threatened retaliatory measures. Georgescu, who emerged as a frontrunner in the annulled election, has faced scrutiny for his pro-Russian comments and connections to far-right ideologies. This diplomatic rift follows a broader trend of escalating tensions between Romania and Russia, particularly regarding electoral meddling. Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the previous election results after concerns about foreign influence were raised.