Moldova: President Sandu’s dog bit the Austrian president’s hand

An unexpected event witnessed the visit of Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen to Moldova, after he was bitten by the dog of his Moldovan counterpart, Maia Sandu.

Moldova media reports said that the two leaders were enjoying a walk in the garden of the presidential residence in Chisinau when the Austrian president tried to pet the dog that was following them. Kondručić – as the dog of the president of Moldova is called – reacted and bit the dignitary’s hand.

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Moldova’s President Maia Sanda’s dog bites the finger of the Austrian leader who arrived on a visit to Chisinau 🤔😬 pic.twitter.com/EkZy31LMar

-Paolo Li (@PaoloAlli) November 16, 2023

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The President of Austria 🇦🇹, on an official visit to Chisinau 🇲🇩, accompanied by the President of Slovenia 🇸🇮, was bitten by the presidential dog Codruş. “There are too many people,” Maia Sandu apologized.

Video source: TVR Moldova pic.twitter.com/fNpG1Qlc5H

– Leon 🇮🇹 (@LeoChamaeleo) November 16, 2023

Moldovan President Maia Sandu apologized to her Austrian counterpart for the unfortunate incident, saying that the dog was afraid of the presence of foreigners.

In a subsequent meeting with the Speaker of Parliament, Alexander van der Bellen appeared with a bandage on his injured hand.

Maia Sandu welcomed the Presidents of Austria and Slovenia to Chisinau for talks on Moldova’s accession process to the European Union.