The former president of the country, who is an ally of the Kremlin, was placed under house arrest for 30 days.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes the hand of his friend, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Igor Dodon.
According to Elena Cazacov, the senior anti-corruption prosecutor, Dodon was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of treason and corruption, but she did not specify if that was the case.
According to Dodon, the arrest was the result of a political order from his successor, Maia Sandu.
Russia was alarmed by Dodon's arrest, and the leader of the opposition party that advocates for closer ties to Russia.
The small former Soviet republic of Moldova gained independence in 1991 and has teetered between Russian and Western influence. Russia invaded Ukraine a week after Moldova applied to join the European Union. Transnistria is a pro-Russian state that has largely been independent for Moldova's history. Russian troops are in Transnistria. A Russian general's stated goal last month of gaining control over southern and eastern Ukraine as a way to Transnistria sparked fears that Russia would extend its offensive to Moldova. The Ukrainian defense ministry said the blasts were part of a false-flag operation and that they were of Russian origin.
The former ambassador to the United States of Moldova said there was an invasion of its neighbor by Russia.
Dodon is the latest former European head of state to come under fire for his ties to Russia. Last week, German authorities stripped its former chancellor of some of his privileges because of his business ties with Russia and his friendship with Putin. He resigned from the board of the Russian energy giant.
The ex-president was placed under house arrest.
Why Russia would want to capture the land leading to Transnistria.
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