Russia expels German diplomats in retaliation
The Russian government has announced its decision to expel several German diplomats in a tit-for-tat move. The foreign affairs ministry in Moscow stated that the German authorities have decided on yet another mass expulsion of employees of Russian diplomatic missions in Germany. While the ministry did not specify how many diplomats it would expel, Maria Zakharova, a ministry spokeswoman, said that Moscow had decided to expel “more than 20,” according to AFP. The statement further added that Germany’s actions were “hostile” and that they condemned Berlin for continuing to destroy the entire array of Russian-German relations.
In response, Germany confirmed that it had been in contact with Russian authorities regarding personnel questions, but did not provide any further details. The Russian foreign ministry noted that it had informed Germany of the decision at the beginning of the month.
The move follows the German government’s decision to expel Russian diplomats, which it dubbed a “mass expulsion,” without specifying further details. The tension between Moscow and Berlin has been increasing since the war in Ukraine began. In April last year, the German government had expelled around 40 Russian diplomats from the country.
The latest expulsion of diplomats is another blow to the already strained relations between Russia and Germany. The two countries have had a long history of economic, cultural, and political cooperation. However, their relations have been tested in recent years by the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, and accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
The decision to expel diplomats is a clear indication of the deteriorating diplomatic ties between Russia and Germany. The move is likely to escalate tensions between the two countries, with possible repercussions on their economic, political, and security cooperation.
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