The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said Friday they were expelling a total of four Russian diplomats in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is involved in a spat with Moscow.
The Czech government has accused Russian secret services of being behind a fatal explosion at an arms depot in eastern Czech Republic in 2014.
Prague has expelled 18 Russian diplomats over the allegations and is planning to eject dozens more diplomats and embassy staff in a move that is expected to bring retaliation from Moscow.
Russia has expelled 20 Czech diplomats from Moscow so far, decimating the embassy's workforce.
"The decision shows our solidarity with our ally after an unprecedented and dangerous incident in the Czech Republic," Lithuania's foreign ministry said, announcing the expulsion of two Russians.
Lithuania also signalled its readiness to help the Czech embassy in Moscow carry out its functions following the expulsion of the Czech diplomats.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics announced the expulsion of a Russian diplomat, saying: "Latvia will not tolerate subversive activities on its soil or that of its partners and allies."
Estonia's foreign ministry said the explosion near the Czech village of Vrbetice showed "Russia's action violates international law, undermines European security & stability and is unacceptable".
Estonia is also expelling one Russian diplomat.
Slovakia, which formed a single country with the Czech Republic until 1993, said on Thursday it would expel three Russian diplomats in solidarity with Prague and because of information received from its intelligence services.
All three Baltic states, which were once ruled by Moscow during Soviet times, are EU and NATO members and have an uneasy relationship with Russia....afp
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Russia protests Czech expulsion of its diplomats - AA
Czech Republic expels 18 Russian diplomats - First Deputy Prime Minister - TASS
Moscú declara 'personas non grata' a 20 empleados de la Embajada de la República Checa - RT
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El presidente ruso, Vladímir Putin, ha firmado un decreto sobre medidas para hacer frente a las a las acciones hostiles de otros países, comunicó este viernes el Kremlin.
ReplyDeleteEl mandatario ordenó limitar o prohibir totalmente la contratación en el territorio de Rusia de empleados por parte de "las misiones diplomáticas y oficinas consulares, las oficinas de representación de los organismos estatales y las instituciones estatales de los países extranjeros que cometan acciones inamistosas" contra el país, bien sean "ciudadanos rusos o entidades jurídicas rusas".
Además, los contratos firmados por las misiones diplomáticas de los países que realicen acciones inamistosas" antes de la entrada en vigor de este decreto con personas, cuyo número exceda del determinado por el Gobierno ruso, "serán rescindidos", reza el documento. Se señala que el decreto entrará en vigor a partir del día de su publicación oficial.
Como se explica en el decreto, se firmó con el fin de "proteger los intereses y la seguridad de la Federación Rusa" y de acuerdo con la legislación nacional.