According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow "demanded that Moldova stop the politically motivated persecution of Russian-language media and comply with its international obligations in the field of ensuring the freedom of speech and media and the rights of journalists"
The Moldovan authorities expelled Vitaly Denisov, the head of the Russian-controlled propaganda site Sputnik Moldova, for a period of 10 years, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Sept. 13, citing the country's Migration and Asylum Office.