RUSSIA RETALIATES: 23 UK diplomats EXPELLED from country as diplomatic war escalates
RUSSIA told the UK it will expel 23 British diplomats in retaliation against Theresa May’s decision to banish Russians from London as the war of words escalates.
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Britain’s ambassador to Russia, Laurie Bristow, was summoned to the Kremlin’s foreign ministry today, where he was informed of what steps it will take in the response to Britain’s expulsion of 23 Russians.
The Britons have a week to leave Russia.
The ministry said it “reserved the right” to take other measures against Britain in the event of “further hostile steps from London”.
The two countries have been locked in a diplomatic row after Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with a nerve agent in Salisbury.
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If further unfriendly actions are taken against Russia, the Russian side reserves the right to take other response measures
Theresa May said it was "highly likely" Russia was behind the attack, demanding answers from Russia.
But the Kremlin refused to respond, demanding to see evidence and information on the chemicals used on Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
The British Government took their silence as an admission of guilt, and expelled 23 Russians from the country. They have just days before their week-deadline is up.
Moscow has also decided to close the British Council in Russia and to withdraw permission for Britain to open a general consulate in St Petersburg, the ministry said in a statement.
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In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Mr Bristow was handed a note telling him of actions being taken.
The ministry told him they were acting “in response to the provocative actions of the British side and unsubstantiated accusations of the Russian Federation in connection with the incident in Salisbury”.
The statement added: “Given the disparity in the number of consular institutions of the two countries, the consent of the Russian Federation to the opening and functioning of the British Consulate General in St. Petersburg is recalled. The relevant procedures will be implemented in accordance with international legal practice. Due to the unresolved status of the British Council in the Russian Federation, its activities are terminated.”
"The British side," the Foreign Ministry stressed, "warned that if further unfriendly actions are taken against Russia, the Russian side reserves the right to take other response measures."
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