Russia Expels Seven EU Diplomats Over ‘Solidarity’ With Czechs

Moscow on Wednesday (28 April) expelled seven European diplomats after their countries ordered Russian diplomats to leave in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is engulfed in a diplomatic row with Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned their ambassadors to order three diplomats from Slovakia, two from Lithuania, one from Estonia and one more from Latvia to leave Moscow in a week.

“Four diplomats from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have been declared “persona non grata” and must leave the country within seven days.”

Moscow’s action continues the diplomatic warfare between Russia and several EU nations that began earlier this month when the Czech Republic expelled scores of Russian diplomats over the alleged involvement of Russian spies in a massive ammunition depot explosion in 2014.

Last week, Lithuania expelled two Russian diplomats and Estonia and Latvia each ordered one Russian Embassy worker out in solidarity with Prague.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all former Soviet republics, broke away from the Soviet Union three decades ago and joined NATO and the European Union in 2004. They are among the Kremlin’s harshest critics.

Slovakia expelled three Russian diplomats last week in a sign of solidarity with the Czechs. Moscow responded Wednesday by ordering three Slovak Embassy workers to leave in a week.

Earlier this month, Poland also expelled three Russian diplomats in a show of support for the United States, which ordered 10 Russian diplomats out as part of sanctions against Russia for interfering in the 2020 US presidential election and for involvement in the SolarWind hack of federal agencies.

Moscow responded quid pro quo to the US move and last week ordered five Polish diplomats to leave.

I’ve tried to keep up with the tit-for-tat expulsions. Here (I think) are the latest numbers: pic.twitter.com/4c6zPZU9yT

— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) April 28, 2021