Moldovan president Maia Sandy’s dog on Friday bit the hand of visiting Austrian President Van der Bellen.
President Sandu had been walking with her guest within the presidential residence in Chisinau, when he tried to pet his dog and the etiquette faux-pas occurred.
The dog, a rescue called Codrut, had been frightened by the number of people nearby, President Sandu said.
BBC News reported that President Van der Bellen was later seen with a bandaged hand at his next meeting, with the speaker of Moldova’s parliament.
Moldova, which borders Ukraine and Romania, has been hosting talks with Austria and Slovenia in its efforts to join the European Union.
