BUCHAREST, July 9 (Reuters) – Romania has banned Ion Ceban, the mayor of neighbouring Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, from entering the country in a move that extends to the entire Schengen visa-free travel area, Romania’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Moldova, located between Ukraine and Romania, is a geopolitical battleground between Russia and the West, with a Romanian-speaking majority and large Russian-speaking minority.
Ceban is a rival to pro-Western President Maia Sandu, who is striving to lead Moldova into the European Union by 2030.
Romania, a member of the EU and NATO, joined the Schengen area fully this year.
“For national security reasons, Romania is enforcing a measure to not allow Ion Ceban and two other Moldovan citizens into its national territory,” Romania’s foreign ministry said in a statement. “The measure is a ban to access the Schengen area.”
The ministry did not state the reasons for the ban.
Ceban was re-elected as Chisinau’s mayor late last year.
The Moldovan government accused Russia last year of meddling in its presidential election and a referendum held simultaneously on aspirations to join the EU, which passed but more narrowly than forecast. Russia denied engaging in any interference.
Romania canceled its presidential election in December because of suspected Russian interference in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was later banned from running in the ballot re-run in May.
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