Transdniestrian leader arrested in Vienna?

Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov was arrested in the international airport of Vienna, Moldova's official news agency Moldpres cited European media as saying.

After the arrest, according to Moldpres, Smirnov spent several hours at a police station in Vienna. It is unclear where he is now, the agency reports.

Transdniestria's deputy Press Minister Svetlana Antonova told RIA Novosti on Monday that Igor Smirnov was "on a short leave." She said she had "no information" about his having traveled to Vienna.

Officials at the Austrian interior ministry could not reply to RIA Novosti's question if Smirnov had indeed been arrested by the Vienna police.

The Moldovan embassy to Austria and the Austrian news agency APA, too, had no information to offer on Smirnov's arrest and whereabouts.