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Russia has declared three diplomats from Sweden, Poland and Germany who participated in the protests in support of Alexei Navalny on January 23 persona non grata, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to TASS. Sweden rejects the accusations. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, heard the news during his visit to Moscow and called for a “re-evaluation” of the decision.
UPDATE 18.30 French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday condemned “with the utmost firmness” the expulsion of the three Western diplomats and the way that Russia handled the case of opponent Aleksei Navalny, reports AFP, according to Agerpres.
“As for the Navalny business, I strongly condemn from the beginning to the end what happened, from the poisoning (…) to the conviction, and today the expulsion of German, Polish and Swedish diplomats, which was decided by Russia”, said the Frenchman. president at the end of a Franco-German defense council with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
UPDATE 17.50 European Chancellor Josep Borrell “strongly condemned” Russia’s decision to expel three European diplomats on Friday.
Borrell is visiting Moscow and demanded that this decision be “reevaluated,” his spokesman announced, AFP reports, according to Agerpres.
During his meeting with (Russian Foreign Minister) Sergei Lavrov, Josep Borrell learned that three European diplomats would be expelled from Russia. He strongly condemned the decision and rejected allegations that they had engaged in activities inconsistent with their status as foreign diplomats, “said Peter Stano.
The initial news
The ambassadors of the three countries were summoned this Friday to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where they were informed of the decision regarding the diplomats.
“In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961, diplomats who participated in illegal actions were declared persona non grata. They were ordered to leave the territory of the Russian Federation as soon as possible ”, a statement from the Russian ministry shows.
“The Russian side hopes that, in the future, the diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany and their staff will strictly comply with international law,” the statement said.
Sweden rejects Moscow’s accusations
The Swedish Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that one of its diplomats had been expelled from Russia.
“We reject Russia’s claim that the diplomat participated in the demonstration,” a spokeswoman for the Swedish Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by Reuters, according to Agerpres.
Russian police arrested more than 3,800 people on Sunday and blocked the center of several cities, including the capital, during new protests in several cities across the country.
In Saint Petersburg, another opposition stronghold, nearly 3,000 people gathered in a central square were dispersed by riot control forces. Demonstrations also took place in Vladivostok and Novosibirsk. Russian authorities say the protests were not authorized.
Editing: Bogdan Pacurar
