Moldova’s authorities have sent a protest note to Ukraine after two Ukrainian border guards illegally crossed the state border while pursuing a man trying to swim across the Dniester River.
elchi reports that this was announced on the air of “Radio Moldova” by the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense, and Public Order, Lilian Karp.
According to him, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a protest note, and the incident was also discussed with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities.
“Ukrainian border guards dared to cross the state border line, which is a serious violation. In fact, this is the first serious incident where the pursuit was carried out up to the border crossing line of the Republic of Moldova,” Karp stated.
He also condemned the border guards’ actions against the man, noting that the border violation cannot be justified by an attempt by a Ukrainian citizen to illegally leave the country.
According to the deputy, the man who sought asylum in Moldova will most likely receive it in accordance with international law.
The incident occurred on October 15 near the village of Hlushnytsia in the Soroca district. According to available information, 49-year-old Ukrainian citizen Oleksiy Koval attempted to swim across the Dniester River to reach his family who had left Ukraine. Two Ukrainian border guards in a boat tried to stop him and hit him with an oar. Local residents pulled the man out of the water in serious condition.
The two border guards were handed over to the Ukrainian authorities based on a bilateral agreement on readmission. The Moldovan Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal case on the fact of illegal border crossing. During the investigation, the boat and other items found on it were seized.
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