A dog belonging to Moldovan President Maia Sandu bit the hand of visiting Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen, causing what the Austrian leader’s office called a “small wound.” Video posted by local media showed van der Bellen leaning over to pet the dog -- named Codrut -- when the animal jumped and snapped at the Austrian president in Chisinau on November 17. “It was a small wound that was treated with a bandage,” van der Bellen’s office told dpa. “Everyone who knows me knows I’m a big dog lover and can understand his excitement,” van der Bellen, 79, said later. Sandu apologized, saying Codrut had become frightened by the presence of so many people.
Editors' Picks
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.