The US and 14 EU members expel Russian diplomats

Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 diplomats and the closure of the consulate in Seattle, among 14 EU members and Croatia.

US President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats from the US on Monday, European Council President Donald Tusk said that 14 EU countries decided to expel Russian diplomats. Russian diplomats are being expelled from EU member states for a case of poisoning of former double spy Sergey Skripala in Great Britain, Tanjug reports.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic announced that Croatia will expel a diplomat from Croatia for poisoning a double Russian spy Sergei Skripala. "Today we will make a decision to declare an accredited Russian diplomatic representative in the Republic of Croatia unwanted," the prime minister announced at a press conference in Bansko Dvori.

Plenkovic said that Croatia is therefore solidarity with Great Britain in line with the conclusions of the recent European Council Summit. Croatia stood by the US and 14 other EU countries in a coordinated response to the poisoning of a former dual agent in the UK.

Consulate in Seattle 'subject of concern'

These countries expelled dozens of Russian diplomats on Monday in a concerted effort, officials say. The decision to expel Russian diplomats was also brought by Ukraine and the United States. The American president ordered that 60 Russian diplomats be expelled from the United States, as and to close the Russian consulate in Seattle. Referring to the prominent Trump administration officials, AP reports that among them are 12 spies that the United States believes are using diplomatic status in the Russian mission in the United Nations as a cover.

They say the Consulate in Seattle is "a matter of concern for the counterintelligence service" because it is located near the US naval base. And Canada announced on Monday that it will expel four Russian diplomats and deny accreditation for three more, in solidarity with Great Britain in the "Skripal case." These four were identified as members of the intelligence service or individuals who used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada's security or interfere with our democracy, "Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.

According to her, this is the answer to the "abominable and ruthless" attack on former Russian double spy Sergey Skripala in Britain.Albania also joined the EU, US, Canada and Ukraine member states on Monday to support the UK by expelling two Russian diplomats . The decision to expel two Russian diplomats was made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and then sent to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Tirana, Alexander Karpushin.

Poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter

Russian ambassadors to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were invited earlier in Monday to the foreign ministries of these countries, Russian news agencies reported.

The European Union withdrew its ambassador from Moscow in solidarity with Great Britain after being poisoned by a former Russian spy and his daughter Julia, who were in critical condition since they were found unconscious on the bench in Salisbury on March 4th. Members of the EUU on Friday have agreed to take additional criminal measures against Russia, which was blamed for the attack, as well as the US, by Hina.

In the meantime, Britain welcomed the support it received at a European Council summit from other EU member states over an attack on a former Russian spy. It is for these countries to decide whether to take further steps against Moscow, British Prime Minister Therese May spokesman said. "You've seen the European Council's very positive response from our partners, who said they agreed with the United Kingdom's assessment," a spokesman said.

Russia rejects charges

On March 20, 20 Russian diplomats were expelled from Moscow because of a dispute that broke out following the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in England.Rusia replied with the same measure and ordered the expulsion of 23 British diplomats, the agency Tanjug on AP. Two-time spy Sergey Skripal and his daughter were found on March 4 without a consciousness on the Salisbury bench and transferred to a hospital in critical condition.

It was found that they were poisoned by a nerve agent as a "novice", the United Kingdom accused Russia of being involved in their poisoning, but did not provide any evidence for this.

Russia denied these allegations.

• 26 Mar, 2018
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