Ion Ceban, the mayor of Chisinau, along with two other Moldovan citizens, has been denied entry into Romania, according to an official statement from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The decision, which authorities say is based on national security considerations, was announced on Monday.
“For reasons about national security considerations, Romania has implemented the measure of denying entry to Mr. Ion Ceban and two other citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The decision falls under the responsibility of the competent institutions in Romania, by current regulations,” the ministry’s statement reads.
Authorities did not disclose the names of the other two individuals.
FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
The announcement followed media reports in both Chisinau and Bucharest about the entry ban. Romanian journalists initially reported that Bucharest had made the decision, but later updates suggested that it might form part of a broader decision at the European level.
In response, the Alternativa Bloc—of which Ceban is a member—claimed that the measure is politically motivated. The party alleged that “repressive actions are being prepared” against the mayor of the capital and accused the country’s leadership of orchestrating the restrictions.
The situation remains fluid, and further clarifications from Romanian or European authorities may follow.