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German Chancellor Angela Merkel denounced Russia’s expulsion of German diplomats, describing it as a further step for Moscow to move away from the rule of law, while Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday (5 February 2021) that Russia’s decision to expel diplomats from Germany, Sweden and Poland have no justification and further damage relations with Europe.
And Moscow earlier announced the expulsion of diplomats from Sweden, Germany and Poland, accusing them of participating in illegal protests, in St. Petersburg and Moscow on January 23, against the imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
The Russian Foreign Ministry considered that “these actions are unacceptable and do not correspond to their diplomatic character.” “The Russian side hopes that the diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany and their employees will strictly respect the standards of international law in the future,” he added.
“We consider that the expulsion is not justified,” Chancellor Merkel told reporters after an internet conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on defense and security issues, adding that she and Macron were aware of the Russian action during the meeting. .
“Russia’s decision to expel several diplomats from the European Union, including an employee of the embassy in Moscow, is in no way justified and further damages relations with Europe,” Maas said in a statement.
The Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Berlin on Friday and was informed “very clearly” of Berlin’s rejection of Russia’s decision to expel European diplomats, a foreign ministry source told AFP.
In turn, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned “in the strongest terms” the expulsion of European diplomats by Russia, and Macron announced at the conclusion of the meeting of the Franco-German Defense Council “in the Navalny case, I condemn in the most energetic Qualify what happened from beginning to end (…) from the poisoning to the conviction, and today the expulsion of the Polish and Swedish German diplomats, which was decided by Russia ”.
Sweden also considered Moscow’s decision “totally unfounded”, rejecting Russian accusations of participating in a demonstration in support of Navalny.
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, also strongly condemned “Russia’s decision to expel three European diplomats.” Borrell, who learned of this step before announcing it during his visit to Moscow to meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said that he “rejected allegations that they carried out activities incompatible with their diplomatic status. Borrell urged Russia to “reconsider the decision”, highlighting the unity and solidarity of the bloc with the member states involved.
A few hours earlier, Borrell said that relations with Russia were “at their lowest levels” due to the poisoning and imprisonment of opponent Alexei Navalny.
HD / S. (AFP, DPA)
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