Three European countries have suspended Russian diplomats in response to the expulsion of European Union (EU) officials who were part of a delegation to Moscow led by EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
The Guardian reported on Monday that German, Polish and Swedish officials had moved one Russian diplomat from each of their respective countries in response to Moscow’s removal of three EU officials who they said were taking part in anti-government demonstrations in support of Alexei Navalny, the anti-Putin dissident jailed.
The move on Monday was a “clear response to the unacceptable decision to suspend a Swedish diplomat who only fulfilled his duties,” Foreign Minister Ann Linde was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
The German Foreign Office told the newspaper that the German official who was suspended by Moscow last week was carrying out “his task of reporting on developments on the ground in a lawful manner”, while the Polish foreign office added that he enters the effort ‘in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and in co-operation with Germany and Sweden. “
Relations between the EU and Russia continued to sour in the weeks following Navalny’s poisoning and subsequent recovery in a German hospital. The Russian opposition leader has remained in custody since his return to his homeland, while thousands of Russians have taken to the streets of Moscow to protest.
Moscow’s foreign agency responded to the news at a news conference on Monday, calling the evictions “unfair and unfriendly” and saying the suspended officials were “not the initiators of the collapse of relations”, according to The Guardian.
The Biden government also strongly condemned Navalny’s arrest, which was one of several President Biden
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“I made it clear to President Putin, in a very different way from my predecessor, that the days of the United States have turned upside down in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions – interfering with our elections, cyber attacks, the poisoning of its citizens. – is over, “Biden told the State Department on Thursday. “We will not hesitate to increase the cost of Russia and defend our vital interests and our people.”