Russia’s Foreign Ministry has announced the expulsion of three European diplomats for participating in recent illegal demonstrations in the country.
Russia‘s foreign ministry said Friday that Moscow had expelled three German, Polish and Swedish diplomats who had taken part in illegal demonstrations in support of Alexei Navalny.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the three diplomats are considered an undesirable element and will leave the country soon.
“In the future, the diplomatic missions of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany, and their personnel, will strictly adhere to the standards of international law,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Initial reports from European observers quoted unnamed sources as saying that three European diplomats had been expelled from Russia. The decision follows talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell, who is visiting Moscow for the first time.
Shortly after the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, the Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed the expulsion of its diplomat from Russia. The Polish Foreign Ministry also announced that Warsaw would expel a Russian diplomat in response to Moscow’s action.
A source in Moscow told reporters that the Swedish diplomat was present at an unauthorized rally in St. Petersburg on January 23rd. The Swedish embassy claims that the diplomat was the only observer of the protests.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in response to Western embassies following the recent events in Russia that Moscow would respond to all of them.
Alexei Navalny, a pro-Russian pro-Western figure, was arrested in Germany late last month as he arrived at Moscow airport, following which Russia witnessed some unrest.
Earlier, the German government had accused Russia of poisoning him. Russia has denied the allegations, saying Navalny’s test showed no evidence of poisoning.
Navalny, who has been suspended in the so-called “Rutcher” case, has been wanted by the Russian government for failing to appear in several interrogation sessions, and since December 29, 2020, for repeated violations of conditional listings. He was wanted by the Russian Federal Police.