France announces mass expulsion of Russian diplomats

RT
Mon, 04 Apr 2022 18:39 UTC

© Getty Images / atakan

Moscow said the move won't go unanswered.

France will expel "many" Russian diplomats, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on Monday. Moscow, according to Russian media, has promised to respond to Paris' decision to expel the personnel.

According to the French foreign ministry, "this action is part of a European [sic] approach," and the activities of diplomats targeted by these measures are contrary to France's security interests. According to the BFM TV channel, "about 30 Russian diplomats" will be affected by the decision.

In a comment to RIA Novosti, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will respond to Paris' actions.

Multiple EU countries launched a new push to expel Russian diplomats on Monday, amid the fallout of the purported mass killing in Bucha, a small town northwest of Kiev. Ukraine was quick to blame the deaths on Russian troops, who had occupied Bucha until recently, but Moscow has firmly denied any involvement, suggesting the whole affair had been a staged "provocation." Russian forces left the city on March 30. Images purportedly showing civilians killed by withdrawing Russian troops started pouring out of the city on April 2.

Lithuania ordered the Russian ambassador to leave the country altogether, citing Moscow's "relentless aggressive actions in Ukraine." The Baltic state said it had notified its EU and NATO partners of the move, urging them to follow suit. Shortly after the announcement, Latvia said it would also downgrade its diplomatic relations with Moscow, citing alleged "crimes committed by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine."

While apparently opting not to target Moscow's ambassador, Germany did follow suit, with the country's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announcing the expulsion of a "significant number" of Russian diplomats. "The affected diplomatic staff have been working every day against our freedom, against the cohesion of our society," she said.

Comment: As noted, Germany is falling in line. From RT:

Germany has reportedly declared 40 Russian diplomats "undesirable persons." They have five days to leave the country.

Berlin has decided to "declare a significant number of members of the Russian embassy unwanted persons who have worked here in Germany every day against our freedom, against the cohesion of our society," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday. "We will not tolerate this any further."

If diplomats are pronounced unwanted persons, it means expulsion.

The decision was communicated to the Russian ambassador Sergey Netschayev in the afternoon, Baerbock announced.

The personnel have five days to leave Germany. According to local media reports, the Russian foreign-service employees are suspected of working for Moscow's intelligence services. German media outlets said that as many as 40 Russian diplomats are to leave the country.