The media: during Borell’s meeting with Lavrov, a blink of an eye

The decision was based on the fact that they participated in illegal protests aimed at supporting the leader of the Russian opposition, Alexei Navalna, according to European Union sources.

The decision was announced at a press conference between the EU’s head of Diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow on Friday, EUobserver said.

Information about the expelled diplomats was later confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, reports the state news agency RIA.

Lavrov also attacked a European Union diplomat for alleged human rights abuses in the European Union.

Commenting on such accusations, the press service of the Swedish embassy in Russia RBK said that the Swedish Foreign Ministry “categorically rejects” the accusations that the Swedish diplomat had participated in the actions.

“Monitoring political events in the country of service is one of the obligations of Swedish diplomats under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Swedish diplomat observed the demonstration in St. Petersburg, which is considered standard diplomatic procedure.” the Swedish embassy in Russia said in a statement.

Earlier, Lavrov told a news conference after his talks with EU Head of Diplomacy Borrell that possible sanctions on Russia over the Navaln opposition case were an internal matter for the European Union and that Moscow was used to it. to the criminal penalties against him. consider the Community as a reliable partner.

“We see this as an internal matter for the European Union.” We are used to the fact that the European Union, as I have already mentioned, is increasingly resorting to unilateral restrictions that have no legal basis, “said the minister.

Mr. Lavrov stressed that Russia “is building its life on the premise that the European Union is, at least at this stage, an unreliable partner.”

“I hope that the next revision of the strategy, however, addresses the fundamental interests of the European Union in its immediate vicinity. I hope that today’s negotiations will lead to a more constructive trajectory. We are ready for that,” said the head of the Ministry. of Foreign Relations of Russia.

Commenting on Navalno’s call for the EU to impose sanctions on businessmen considered close to the Kremlin, Lavrov suggested that journalists “investigate whether there is any other situation in the world in which a politician or a candidate for a political role requires that foreign states impose sanctions in their country of origin ”.

During the talks, Borrell reiterated the bloc’s call for Russia to release opposition leader Navalna, Reuters reports.

Borrell said the talks with Lavrov were open and intense, during which he called on Moscow to release the imprisoned Kremlin critic Navalna.

“I conveyed to Minister Lavrov our deep concern and requested that he be released and that an investigation be launched into his poisoning,” Borrell said at a press conference with Lavrov about the Navaln poisoning in Russia last August.