At Chisinau Airport, Moldovan authorities apprehended a Russian national identified as a former operative of the Wagner Group, a well-known private military company. The individual, a 36-year-old man, was detained during a routine security check as he attempted to make his way to the Transnistria region, a breakaway territory in Moldova with a significant Russian military presence.
A man who might have been part of Wagner was denied entry to Moldova today, according to the border police. He is one of 183 foreign citizens banned from Moldova over the past week, amid local concerns for Russian-orchestrated destabilisations pic.twitter.com/pCvdbMkWMS
— Paula Erizanu (@paulaerizanu) March 12, 2023
The man claimed his visit to Moldova was for leisure, intending to meet a friend residing in Transnistria. However, upon further scrutiny, authorities discovered inconsistencies in his story. The supposed friend was found near the airport, attempting to deceive security personnel by denying any connection to the detained individual.
Given the Wagner Group’s history of involvement in various conflicts and its association with Russian military operations, the detainee was deemed a high-risk individual under Moldova’s security protocols. This incident unfolded amid ongoing tensions in the region, particularly concerning Transnistria, where Russian influence remains a contentious issue.
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