The Moldovan government has ordered three Russian diplomats to leave the country, accusing them of helping a pro-Kremlin Moldovan lawmaker escape prison.
Moldova has threatened to take retaliatory measures after the move.
Moldova's Foreign Ministry expelled the three Russian embassy staff on Monday. The move was announced on the messaging app Telegram, saying it was "based on clear evidence of actions that contradict diplomatic positions."
Moscow responded swiftly to Moldova's move. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it would take countermeasures, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
The new diplomatic row with neighboring Russia began after a complaint from Moldova on Monday. Moldova has accused the Russian embassy in the country of helping a Moldovan lawmaker flee to the Russian-backed breakaway region of Transnistria.
The lawmaker was sentenced to prison after being convicted of corruption.
The lawmaker is named as Alexander Nesterovsky. Moldova's intelligence agency has released video footage showing Nesterovsky entering the Russian embassy in Moldova on March 18. The following day, a court sentenced Nesterovsky to 12 years in prison. Nesterovsky denies the corruption charges against him.