Earlier, some 20 European states, as well as the US and several non-EU UK allies, had backed London in its accusations against Moscow, claiming its alleged role in the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has decided to expel diplomats from the European states that had taken a similar move toward Moscow.
Moscow has expelled:
Italy: 2 diplomats
Finland: 1 diplomats
Poland: 4 diplomats
Lithuania: 3 diplomats
Netherlands: 2 diplomats
Latvia: 1 diplomat
Sweden: 1 diplomat
Estonia: 1 military attache
Czech Republic: 3 diplomats
Germany: 4 diplomats
Ukraine: 13 diplomats
Moldova: 3 diplomats
Romania: 1 diplomat
Norway: 1 diplomat
Spain: 2 diplomats
Croatia: 1 diplomat
Denmark: 2 diplomats
Ireland: 1 diplomat
Canada: 4 diplomats
USA: 60 diplomats
As for Belgium, Hungary, Montenegro and Georgia, Moscow said it reserves the right to respond to this countries regarding their actions over Skripal case.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas responded to the expulsion of the country’s four diplomats, noting that the decision was “not surprising” and “had not been taken lightly” in Berlin.
Earlier in the day, Moscow summoned ambassadors of the countries that had taken hostile actions over the Skripal case in order to hand them notes and protest and inform of response measures over the expulsion of Russian diplomats.
Sputnik correspondent reported that envoys of 15 European countries, including Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Albania, Romania, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Croatia, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, as well as the Australian and Canadian ambassadors had been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
As of today 7:30GMT, Macedonia will keep their diplomats in Russia, though one may go in a second way of expulsions. Official Kremlin is well aware of the pro Russian sentiment among the Macedonian public, but at the same time they can respond to the unfriendly act by the Macedonian junta perhaps at a later time. Hilarity may ensue considering Macedonia has only 1 diplomat in Russia, and that’s the Ambassador.
