"The restraining actions of the Moldovan authorities against representatives of the Russian media attract attention against the background of unprecedented mass protests in Chisinau. We note that such actions do not meet the new Moldovan authorities' assurances of their desire to build relations with Russia in a constructive way," Zakharova said in a statement.
Zakharova added that Moldova's deportation of Russian journalists ran counter to the universally recognized right to freedom of information, while reducing the chance that the popular protests in Chisinau would be covered objectively.
On Sunday, mass protests erupted in the Moldovan capital, with up to 100,000 anti-government protesters taking to the streets of the city to demonstrate against the worsening economic situation and numerous corruption scandals. The protests continued into Tuesday.
The protesters are demanding that top officials and the government resign, and that the Constitution be amended so that the president is chosen by direct ballot, rather than by members of parliament.