Moldova summons Russian ambassador over polling stations

Moldova’s foreign ministry said on Monday it was summoning the Russian ambassador for an explanation of why Moscow was planning to open six polling stations in Moldova for this week’s Russian presidential election instead of one as had been agreed.
The ministry said Russia Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov had been told to appear at the ministry on Tuesday.
It said he would be asked to explain media reports that six polling stations would operate in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transdniestria.
It said this was at odds with an agreement to open a single station at Russia’s embassy in Chisinau, capital of ex-Soviet Moldova, which lies between Ukraine and Romania.
Russians vote in a presidential election from March 15-17 in which incumbent Vladimir Putin is almost certain to win against three challengers, none of whom criticise him.