Western countries have expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats in protest of what they call “war crimes” in Ukraine
Nations in Europe have responded to what they say are atrocities committed by Russian troops in Ukraine by expelling hundreds of employees from Russian diplomatic missions.
The deportations were ordered after pictures of civilians allegedly killed in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, northwest of the capital Kyiv, were released by the Ukrainian government and Western media. Kyiv accused Russian troops of massacring civilians in what they claimed was genocide. Moscow denied the allegations, saying Ukraine and its foreign supporters were carrying out a false news campaign aimed at discrediting Russia’s military operation.
The Ukrainian government said more condemnatory evidence against Russia must be discovered soon. Russian officials claimed that Kyiv was planning further provocations and that the aim was to prevent ongoing peace talks between the two nations.
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Western diplomatic expulsions against Russians took place before the Bucha incident. RT has compiled a list of nations that have fired Moscow diplomats since Russia attacked Ukraine in late February.
- Greece. On April 6, Greece announced that it would expel 12 Russian diplomats.
- Romania. On April 5, Romania expelled 10 diplomats, arguing that they had violated the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
- Portugal. On April 5, Portugal deported 10 diplomats for whom they were accused “undermine” its national security.
- Sweden. On April 5, Sweden sent out three diplomats they were told where “conduct illegal intelligence gathering operations.”
- Denmark. On April 5, Denmark expelled 15 Russian diplomats and called the pictures from Bucha “Another example of brutality, cruelty and war crimes.”
- Italy. On April 5, Italy sent out 30 diplomats. Prime Minister Mario Draghi called for an independent inquiry into the events in Bucha while blaming “President [Vladimir] Putin, the Russian authorities and their army “ for the event.
- Slovenia. On April 5, Slovenia expelled 35 Russian diplomats. The move was described as expressive “the strongest protest and dismay over the massacre of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha and other cities”.
- France. On April 4, France announced the expulsion of “many” Russian diplomats “whose activities are contrary to our security interests” as a part of “European approach.” According to BFM TV, 35 diplomats will be expelled.
- Germany. On April 4, Berlin announced the expulsion of an unspecified number of Russian diplomats. The television company ZDF reported that 40 people could be deported. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned what she called “incredible brutality against the Russian leadership and those who follow its propaganda.”
- Lithuania. On April 4, Latvia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Russia, calling it a gesture of solidarity with Ukraine. It recalled its ambassador from Moscow and ordered its Russian counterpart in Vilnius to leave. It also closed a Russian consulate in Klaipeda. On March 18, Lithuania expelled four diplomats “activities incompatible with their diplomatic status.”
- Latvia. On April 4, Latvia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Russia. It recalled its ambassador from Moscow at the same time as ordering the Russian ambassador to leave. It also expelled 13 Russian diplomats and closed two consulates. On March 18, Latvia expelled three diplomatic staff from Russia “continued aggression in Ukraine.”
- Estonia. On April 4, Estonia ordered two Russian consulates to close and its staff to leave the country. On March 18, Estonia expelled three Russian diplomats and accused them “actively undermines Estonia’s security and spreads propaganda, which justifies Russia’s illegal warfare.”
- Slovakia. On March 30, Slovakia announced that it would expel 35 Russian diplomats, claiming that it had violated the Vienna Convention. Earlier on March 14, it announced that three Russians would be deported for the same reason and arrested three people accused of spying for Moscow.
- Belgium. On March 29, Belgium expelled 21 members of the Russian diplomatic mission, citing “espionage” and “security threat.”
- Netherlands. On March 29, the Netherlands expelled 17 Russian diplomats and described them as intelligence officials working under diplomatic cover.
- Ireland. On March 29, Ireland expelled four diplomats and argued for theirs “activities have not been in line with international standards of diplomatic conduct.”
- Czech Republic. On March 29, the Czech Republic expelled one person.
- Northern Macedonia. On March 28, northern Macedonia expelled five Russian diplomats.
- Poland. On March 23, Poland expelled 45 Russian diplomats, who Warsaw said were involved in intelligence operations that threatened the security of Poland and its allies.
- Bulgaria. Bulgaria expelled two Russian diplomats on March 2 and another ten on March 18. They were accused of violating the Vienna Convention.
- Montenegro. On March 4, Montenegro expelled a member of the Russian diplomatic mission and accused him of violating the Vienna Convention.
- USA. On February 28, the United States said it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats working in the Russian delegation to the UN. The diplomats were engaged in “espionage activities” detrimental to US national security, Washington claimed. The move came days after Russia attacked Ukraine, but had been underway for several months, according to US officials.
Canada said it was considering expelling Russian diplomats from Bucha, but has not done so so far.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and vice-chairman of the Russian National Security Council, commented on Monday’s deportation, saying the gestures could not change Russia’s foreign policy.
“If it continues like this” he said, “then the better option would be to put padlocks on western embassies. It would be cheaper for everyone. And then we will definitely look at each other only through binoculars.”
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Moscow launched a large-scale offensive against Ukraine in late February, following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk Accords signed in 2014, and Russia’s final recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The German and French mediated protocols had been designed to regulate the status of these regions in the Ukrainian state.
Russia has now demanded that Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join the US-led military alliance NATO. Kyiv insists that the Russian offensive was completely unprovoked and has denied allegations that it planned to retake the two rebel regions by force.