Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevich announced that he would expel a Russian diplomat and said he would “not allow hostile operations in his or her own territory”. Consecutively, many EU countries expelled Russian diplomats Meanwhile, the Estonian Foreign Ministry has also issued a decision to expel a Russian diplomat involved in the explosion of the Czech army’s ammunition in 2014. The Estonian side confirmed, this incident is clear “vi violating international law, undermining the security and stability of Europe and is unacceptable “. New diplomatic tensions with Russia began after the Czech ordered 18 Russian diplomats to leave the country on suspicions they were involved in a 2014 ammunition explosion. Russia responded by expelling 20 Czech diplomats after denying Prague’s accusations. Confrontation between the two countries continued to escalate, with the Czech demanding that 63 Russian diplomats leave the country. Before three countries Baltics, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland also announced the deportation of Russian diplomats respectively.

Three Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, have expelled a total of four Russian diplomats to show solidarity with the Czech Republic (Czech) in diplomatic retaliation for alleged Russian secret involvement. ammunition warehouse explosions in Czech, news agency AFP said. On April 17, the Czech Republic accused the Russian Secret Service of being behind a fatal explosion at an arsenal in eastern Czechs in 2014 and thus expelled 18 Russian diplomats. This decision led to a series of “reciprocal” responses between Prague and Moscow. The Czech Republic has called on allies in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Bloc (NATO) to unite and support the decision of the Prague government. On April 23, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis announced his decision to expel two staff of the Russian Embassy in Vilnius for “behavior inconsistent with diplomatic status” and ordered them to leave Lithuania within seven days. Russian Embassy in Riga (Latvia). Photo: TASS The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry stressed that “this decision shows our solidarity (ie the Vilnius government) with our ally after an unprecedented and dangerous incident in the Czech Republic”. Lithuania also offered to support the Czech Embassy in Moscow in carrying out its functions after Czech diplomats were expelled by Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that by May 31st, the Russian Embassy in Prague and the Czech Embassy in Moscow will only maintain 7 diplomatic staff, 25 technical and administrative staff, as well as right to hire up to 19 employees who are nationals of the host country. Thus, the number of Czech diplomats in Moscow must be reduced by 16, while the number of Russian diplomats in Prague is only one-sixth of the current number. On the same day 23-4, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics announced the expulsion of a staff member of the Russian Embassy in Riga. The Latvian Foreign Ministry explained that this was a move to show “solidarity with the Czech”, based on “information provided by Latvian authorities” and was made after consulting with allies. EU and NATO. And the Estonian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of a Russian diplomat who the Tallinn government said was behaving inconsistent with diplomatic principles. Estonia emphasized that it was “an expression of solidarity with the Czechs” and criticized the actions of the Russian secret service as the Czech accused it of being “unacceptable”. In response to the decision of the Latvian Foreign Ministry, the Russian Embassy in Riga said that this “unfriendly action” would “have the most negative impact on the development of Russian-Latvian relations”. The Russian diplomatic delegation also announced that Moscow would soon take measures to respond, according to the news agency TASS . The Russian embassy in Tallinn was also dissatisfied by Estonia’s decision, saying that the decision to expel Russian diplomats could undermine efforts to improve Russia-Estonian relations. The Russian diplomatic delegation to Lithuania does not appear to have commented on the decision of the Vilnius government yet. Before the three Baltic countries, Slovakia expelled three members of the Russian Embassy in Bratislava to show solidarity with its neighbor Czech.

To show solidarity with neighboring Czech Republic (Czech), Slovakia expelled three Russian diplomats, the news agency. TASS reporting. Citing sources from Slovak media on April 22, TASS said Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger had notified Slovakia of the deportation order and asked three Russian diplomats to leave Slovakia “in the next seven days”. Slovakia’s decision came after neighboring Czech country called on European allies to support Prague’s stance in expelling 18 Russian diplomats for accusing Moscow of being involved in a number of ammunition explosions. in the Czech Republic in 2014. Russian Embassy in Bratislava (Slovakia). Photo: AFP Slovakia is an ally in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Bloc (NATO). The Czech Republic and Slovakia had a period of forming a unified state, known as Czechoslovakia, before a peaceful split in 1993. Prime Minister Heger explained that Slovakia’s decision to target diplomatic missions “did not respect the” principles of international law “, and stressed that the Bratislava government” desperately needed to do everything possible. to ensure security and for diplomatic missions working in Slovakia to comply with the laws (of Slovakia) and international agreements “. Accordingly, the decision to expel Russian diplomats was made by Slovakia “based on information from intelligence agencies (of Slovakia) who cooperated closely with the partner’s intelligence agencies. “and” based on the situation in the geopolitical space and current events in the Czech Republic – a country where Slovakia shows its solidarity and support “. Slovakia Jaroslav Nad noted that Bratislava’s decision was not a “cliché act” but was based on the fact that the activities of three Russian diplomats “went beyond established rules. in the international environment “. Responding to reporters’ questions about Slovakia’s move, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was “deeply disappointed by Bratislava’s unfriendly actions”. Ms. Zakharova accused Slovakia of “showing false solidarity” with an act Moscow called a “fabrication incident” presented by Prague. Russia has repeatedly denied its involvement in military incidents in the Czech Republic and has taken diplomatic retaliation measures. The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry also said that Moscow will soon take measures to retaliate against the deportation order of Bratislava.

Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek announced that Russia would not be allowed to have more diplomats in Prague than the number of Czech diplomats currently available at their embassy in Moscow. Except for the number of diplomats allowed to be maintained, all remaining staff at the Russian embassy in Prague had to leave by the end of May. Notice comes after Russia expulsion 20 Czech diplomats on April 18 in retaliation for the Czech government’s expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats, identified as spies by Russian intelligence services. Russian Embassy in Prague. Photo: PM. The Czech government objected to what it called Russia’s “inappropriate response”, saying that Russia crippled the Czech Embassy in Moscow. Foreign Minister Kulhanek warned that if Russia does not regulate the expulsion of Czech diplomats at the last minute, he will cut the staffing of the Russian Embassy in Prague to be equal to their remaining staff at the embassy. Checks in Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the ministry had summoned the Czech ambassador on April 22. “It is unacceptable to speak to Russia,” said Ms. Zakharova.

The statement states that the decision made by the Polish Foreign Ministry was due to the fact that three Russian diplomats have engaged in activities that are inconsistent with diplomatic regulations and endanger Poland’s security.

Russian and Polish flags. Photo: Dreamstime

The statement also expressed Poland’s absolute support for the US measures taken against Russia on April 15.

It is known that earlier in a related development, the US government announced to impose large-scale sanctions on Russia. At the same time expelled 10 Russian diplomats, on the grounds of conducting cyber attacks and interfering in the US presidential election.

The British Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian Ambassador regarding London’s deep concern about Russia’s hostile policy.

According to Russian media, the British Foreign Ministry has summoned Russian Ambassador to London Andrei Kelin, regarding Russia’s “hostile line of conduct”, the London Foreign Service said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Warsaw, Sergei Andreev, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland. According to diplomatic sources, the reason for the summons was related to “the introduction of new sanctions by the United States against Russia”. Another reason may be the situation on Ukraine’s eastern border.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

“Such an act of aggression will be strongly opposed. The response to the sanctions will be inevitable … The responsibility for what is happening completely belongs to the US “- Ms. Zakharova said in a press conference.

According to Ms. Zakharova, US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry to have a “difficult” conversation with the US side.

“We have repeatedly warned the United States about the consequences of their hostile actions, which represents the degree of confrontation between the two countries” – said Ms. Zakharova – “Such a (political) process. do not serve the people’s interests of the two leading nuclear powers, which are historically responsible for the fate of the world.

“In a phone call with the Russian President, Mr. Joe Biden expressed interest in the normalization of Russia-US relations. However, the actions of his administration showed the opposite “- the spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized.

Earlier, the United States imposed anti-Russia sanctions and expelled 10 diplomats in response to accusations of Moscow’s election meddling and cyber activities.

US President Joe Biden said he is ready to take further action if Moscow continues to “interfere in our democracy” but at the same time still hopes to improve relations with Russia.

Russian President and US President – documentary photo.

On April 15, the administration of US President Joe Biden intends to impose new sanctions on many Russian individuals and organizations.

The US news agency, citing some well-informed sources, said Washington would punish 30 entities in Russia and expel 10 officials from the United States.

This is part of the US response to Russia over accusations that Moscow is the culprit behind large-scale cyber attacks against US software supply chain SolarWinds in December last year.

Through that attack, the hackers gain access to the data of thousands of companies and government offices that are partners of Solar Winds.

However, the Russian side has always strongly rejected and affirmed that it had prepared the scenario to deal with the worst situations.

Official sources from the White House, the State Department and the US Treasury Department have not officially announced or responded to the leaked information.

If confirmed, this is the “pain” of the US and Russia at the moment when the tense relationship between the two countries is falling into disagreement regarding the hot spot on the Russia-Ukraine border.

Earlier, this disagreement led the US to send two destroyers to the Black Sea towards Russia to show support for Ukraine.

However, after Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden made a phone call and the two sides agreed to hold a summit meeting in the near future, the US stopped the plan to destroy the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS destroyers. Donald Cook into the Black Sea.

Turkey has received notification of this route change. This is a move that is expected to help cool the situation in Ukraine and ease tensions between the US and Russia.

Thus, in combination with the frigate developments and the US administration’s imposition of sanctions on Russia, it can be seen that the Biden administration probably wants to demonstrate the diplomatic stance with Moscow, which he immediately identified. from the beginning.

That is the US will react strongly to protect national interests against Russian actions such as accusations of cyber attacks, election interference … but will not make too much tension in matters related to international affairs. .