Poland, Germany, Sweden expel Russian diplomats in retaliatory move

Germany, Poland and Sweden declared three Russian diplomats working in each of the countries personae non gratae on the evening of February 8.

The move came as a response for the expulsion of the countries’ diplomats from Russia over participation in unsanctioned rallies.

The messages about the expulsion of Russian diplomats were issued on the foreign ministries’ Twitter accounts almost concurrently.

“With this step, the Federal Government is responding to a decision by the Russian Federation of Friday, 5 February 2021,” the Federal Foreign Office of Germany said.

“We have informed the Russian Ambassador that a person from the Russian embassy is asked to leave Sweden. This is a clear response to the unacceptable decision to expel a Swedish diplomat who was only preforming his duties,” Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde wrote.

(BSS)