Moldova recalled its ambassador to Russia after being accused of sexual harassment of a diplomatic mission employee

Ambassador of Moldova to Russia Vladimir Golovatyuk was recalled to Chisinau for consultations and assessment of the activities of the diplomatic mission, reported For Interfax, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Daniel Voda.

“In accordance with the norms of the law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled Ambassador Vladimir Golovatyuk to Chisinau for an indefinite period to consult and assess the activities of the diplomatic mission, as well as aspects related to his behavior,” the ministry said in a statement.

However, according to local media reports, Golovatyuk was recalled amid a scandal that erupted in connection with accusations of sexual harassment of one of the embassy employees. How writes local portal deschide.md, the ambassador, under a fictitious pretext, invited an employee of the diplomatic mission to his apartment, located directly above the office of the embassy. Immediately after the girl entered the apartment, Golovatyuk came out to her “naked and sexually aroused.” The girl, whose name was not disclosed, told the portal that the ambassador tried to hug her, but she managed to escape.

“Immediately after the incident, I notified my colleague at the embassy, ​​as well as the police in Russia. I was in a state of shock, in a state of maximum nervousness, I was very ashamed of what happened to me. I cannot work, I suffered a huge psychological trauma with serious consequences, ”she explained.

Golovatyuk, in turn, told Deschide.md that he left for Chisinau, as his vacation began, and refused to comment on reports about his involvement in the sex scandal.

Information about the sexual scandal involving the ambassador is also confirmed by several Telegram channels that interviewed the injured employee of the diplomatic mission.

“He spread disparaging information about me, both in Russia and in Chisinau. He said that I was a woman with “low social responsibility,” that I behaved inappropriately, that I provoked him, I hypnotized him. He tells all this lies to the government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the parliament. I am returning from a mission with a big stain caused by it, ”said the diplomatic mission employee.

The MFAEI said that at the moment they consider it necessary to refrain from commenting.

“Until all the circumstances of this case are clarified, we refrain from commenting on the information published in the press. The Ministry promotes zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. Respect and protection of human dignity is one of the basic principles that the diplomatic service is guided by, ”the ministry said.

Golovatyuk was appointed Ambassador of Moldova to Russia on December 16, 2020. Previously, he was a member of parliament from the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), in which he headed the commission on budget and finance.