In principle, Moldova is not a country where violent hate crimes, especially murders, are a frequent occurrence. Nevertheless, in 2013, one xenophobic murder was noted. On March 25, it was reported that a 59-year-old resident of Cociulia Nouă village, Leova district, was stabbed to death for demanding to talk to him in Romanian language. Two men met in a bar. One scolded another for a greeting in Russian. After the bar closed and everyone went home, the offended came to his neighbour and stabbed him with a knife, leading to instant death.