Almost 200 individuals, deemed to pose a heightened risk to national security, were prevented from entering the Republic of Moldova. Among them are members of Russian force structures and individuals from occupied regions in Ukraine. The Ministry of Internal Affairs specifies that the turned away individuals intended to participate in an unauthorized sporting event in Moldova, presented as the European Kickboxing Championship, reports IPN.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the competition was not authorized by the Ministry of Education and Research, nor by any other competent institutions. Following checks and inter-institutional cooperation, including the involvement of the Information and Security Service, law enforcement established that among the participants were individuals with direct ties to power structures in the Russian Federation, such as SOBR, CSKA, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or former military personnel. Moreover, some of the athletes came from territories under occupation or unrecognized administration, such as the regions of Crimea and Donbas.
The General Inspectorate of the Border Police denied entry into the territory of the Republic of Moldova for 19 individuals. Additionally, another 176 people were prohibited from traveling to the Republic of Moldova, following the exchange of information at an international level. The majority of them come from the Russian Federation and Belarus.
The organizers subsequently cancelled the senior competition, while the tournament for underage athletes continues, with all legal procedures being observed.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that border control measures remain strict, in the context of identified risks, which include connections with criminal groups, symbols supporting war, separatist messages or other actions that could affect the image of the Republic of Moldova internationally.