CHISINAU, Moldova – A fatal shooting occurred at Chisinau International Airport on Friday, June 30, 2023, leaving two people dead and grounding all flights.
According to Moldovan Interior Ministry, the perpetrator, who was wounded in the incident, is now in police custody.
The attack took place after a foreign citizen was denied entry into Moldova. The two victims were a border guard and an airport security official, and a third person was injured in the shooting, stated President Maia Sandu.
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean identified the suspect as a 43-year-old man from Tajikistan.
Government press secretary, Daniel Voda, told Moldovan TV that the man had arrived from Turkey and was denied entry into the country.
While being escorted to a special area in the airport, the man managed to seize a gun from a border police officer, which he used to fatally shoot two individuals.
Videos emerging from the scene depict passengers gathered outside the airport on the grass, as the building was swiftly evacuated.
Chisinau International Airport, being the largest airport in the country, halted all inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the incident.
Moldova, with a population of around 2.6 million, has been on high alert for several months.
President Sandu previously accused Russia of conspiring to employ foreign “saboteurs” to topple her pro-European Union government.
This accusation arose after incidents involving barred entry of Serbian football fans and a group of boxers from Montenegro through Chisinau Airport.
Russia has denied any involvement in such a plot.
Moldova has been significantly affected by the conflict in neighboring Ukraine and continues to experience tensions with the pro-Moscow breakaway region of Transnistria, which hosts around 1,500 Russian troops.
In a statement, President Sandu offered her condolences to the families of the victims and proclaimed it to be “a sad day for all of us”. She added that state security forces across Moldova have been placed on high alert.
Daniel Voda assured the public, “All measures have been taken to bring the situation back to normal. Law enforcers will continue to ensure security and public order at the airport.”
This incident serves as a somber reminder of the fragile security situation in the region and underscores the importance of vigilance and cooperation in ensuring public safety.
