Europe expels a series of Russian diplomats

“We decided to expel some diplomats Russia Work at France, because their activities are against our security interests. This action is part of the European approach. Our highest responsibility is always to ensure the safety of the people of France and Europe,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

French officials did not say how many Russian diplomats were expelled, but an unnamed source in the French Foreign Ministry said about 35 people will have to return home.

The Russian Foreign Ministry later confirmed it would react to the move.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio also said today that Italy has expelled 30 Russian diplomats for national security reasons. The Italian Foreign Ministry earlier summoned the Russian ambassador to the country, Sergey Razo, to announce the decision.

Denmark on the same day announced the expulsion of 15 Russian diplomats accused of being intelligence agents.

“We confirm that 15 expelled intelligence agents have committed espionage on Danish soil,” Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told reporters after a meeting in parliament, adding that Copenhagen wanted to send “information clear signal that espionage in this country is unacceptable.”

The Russian Ambassador to Denmark was previously informed of the decision. However, Copenhagen insists it will maintain diplomatic relations with Moscow.

“Denmark does not want to sever diplomatic relations with Moscow. The Russian ambassador and the rest of the embassy in Copenhagen are not subject to expulsion,” Kofod said.

The move of these countries is part of a common European action framework. The German government on April 4 also expelled a “significant number” of Russian diplomats in response to what Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described as “unbelievable atrocities” in Ukraine. This move could cause 40 Russian diplomats to return home.

Lithuania, the Baltic state, also announced the expulsion of the Russian ambassador and the closure of the Russian consulate general in the city of Klaipeda, and recalled the ambassador in Moscow.

Officials Ukraine April 3 released a video showing about 20 bodies in civilian clothes scattered on the streets of Bucha, a town northwest of the capital Kiev, after Russian forces withdrew from here. CNN also reported that a mass grave was discovered at St. Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints in Bucha.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described this as an act of “genocide” aimed at “eliminating an entire country and people” of Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the incident a “deliberate massacre” and accused Russia of “aiming to get rid of as many Ukrainians as possible”. Mr. Kubela called on the G7 countries to “immediately impose new and devastating sanctions” against Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that “there are very clear signs of war crimes” and proposed imposing new sanctions on Russia.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement saying its forces did not kill civilians in Bucha. “The inhabitants of this town have the opportunity to freely leave the settlement in the north, while the southern suburbs are bombarded by Ukrainian troops around the clock,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Moscow insists that the images and videos of “the bodies scattered on the streets of Bucha” are “another product of the Kiev government and the Western media”. All Russian forces withdrew from Bucha on March 30, a day after the country announced it would significantly reduce its military activity in northern Ukraine.

Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky also called this a “blatant provocation by Ukrainian extremists in Bucha”.

Vu Anh – Huyen Le (According to AFP, Reuters)