The EU reacted to the expulsion of diplomats from Russia

Russia decided to expel the Swedish, Polish and German diplomats for participating in the Navalny rallies.

The European Union condemned and called for a review of Russia’s decision to expel diplomats from Germany, Poland and Sweden for participating in protests. This is stated in the statement by the spokesman for the EU Foreign Ministry, Peter Stano, on Friday 5 February.

Note that Stano and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, are now in Moscow.

“The High Representative expresses the solidarity of the EU with these member states. This decision must be reviewed,” the statement said.

Stano also confirmed that Borrell was informed of this decision during negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“The High Representative strongly condemns this decision and rejects all allegations of participation in the demonstrations,” he said.

The German Foreign Ministry said it would respond to the expulsion of its diplomat.

“Russia’s decision to expel several diplomats from the EU, including an employee of the embassy in Moscow, is in no way justified and causes even greater damage to relations with Europe,” the department head’s statement said , Heiko Maas.

Maas stressed that the German diplomat “only acted in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, fulfilling the task stipulated in it of obtaining information on events on the ground.”

In turn, German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the expulsion of diplomats as unjustified.

“We consider this expulsion to be unreasonable and we believe that this is another manifestation of a deviation from the principles of the rule of law, which can now be observed in Russia,” Merkel said at a press conference after a virtual Defense Council meeting. and Security. from Germany and France with the participation of President Emmanuel Macron.

The Polish Foreign Ministry promised to expel the Russian diplomat, while the Swedish Foreign Ministry denies the diplomat’s involvement in the action.

We will recall, previously Russia accused the United States of organizing protests in support of Alexei Navalny. The charges are denied in Washington.

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