The Russian diplomats were working secretly as ‘Intelligence Officers’ which has lead to their expulsion from NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has expelled 8 Russian diplomats for working secretly as ‘Intelligence Officers’ and has also reduced the number of positions Moscow is able to accredit to NATO to 10.
The decision came after information was revealed in April 2021 about the fatal explosions at a Czech ammunition depot in 2014 that Prague says involved 2 Russian spies, who were also identified as allegedly implicated in the poisoning of Russian double agent – Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom (U.K.).
Reacting to the expulsion of 8 diplomats, Russia accused the West of using Moscow as a “bogeyman”.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary-General of NATO – Jens Stoltenberg said, “This decision is not linked to any particular event, but we have seen… an increase in Russian malign activity, and therefore we need to be vigilant.”
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia – Alexander Grushko said, “The leaders of NATO yesterday spoke of the importance of de-escalating relations with Russia and spoke out in favour of a resumption in dialogue in the framework of the Russia-NATO Council.”
He further said, “The collective West is continuing its policy of diplomatic confrontation with Russia. After the dramatic end of the Afghan era, how can they can get by without the bogeyman of the ‘Russian threat’? – They can’t.”
The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Lower House of the Russian Parliament – Leonid Slutsky, has dismissed the accusations against the diplomats and has termed them as baseless. He also warned that NATO’s move would further strain relations. He also said that Russia will respond in retaliation.
Russia has long had an observer mission to NATO as part of the NATO-Russia Council, founded 20 years ago. It was formed to promote cooperation in common security areas. This mission is not a member of the United States (U.S.) led alliance.
Relations between NATO and Russia have continued to fall ever since Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014. The two are at odds over Russia’s nuclear missile development, aerial intrusions into NATO’s airspace and the buzzing of allied ships by fighter planes.
Separately, the President of the U.S. – Joe Biden has taken a much firmer tone with Russia than his predecessor Donald Trump and has pressed his European counterparts in the NATO alliance to take a similar approach.
Also, the position of Russia’s envoy to the European Union (E.U.) is currently vacant and that NATO’s move would damage dialogue between Moscow and the West.
