Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan took part in a 6.5-kilometre swimming race across Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait on Sunday, swimming from Asia to Europe alongside his 14-year-old son.

Axar.az reports, citing Moldavan media, that Tofan said the race had personal significance because he had promised his son they would cross the Bosphorus together when he turned 14.

“I promised my son that we would swim across the Bosphorus together. He has just turned 14, and I had to keep my promise,” Tofan said.

The prime minister joked that he now had an additional responsibility to perform well.

“Now I have to keep my promise and I also have to make sure I get a good result, so I don’t embarrass my country,” he said.

Tofan also described the swim as a symbol of Moldova’s European aspirations.

“For my country, this is also a kind of symbolic journey, because we are trying to firmly integrate our country into Europe,” he said.

The prime minister also highlighted ties between Moldova and Turkiye, describing Moldova’s Gagauz community as “a bridge between Moldova and Turkiye.”

The 38th Intercontinental Bosphorus Swimming Race was held on August 23, with thousands of swimmers taking part in the annual competition between Istanbul’s Asian and European shores.