Twenty
three diplomats of the British Embassy in Moscow have been declared personae
non gratae and will be expelled within a week’s time.
MOSCOW,
March 17. /TASS/. Twenty three British diplomats have been declared personae
non gratae and will be expelled within a week, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said
in a statement on Saturday.
"On
March 17, British Ambassador to Moscow Laurie Bristow was summoned to the
Russian Foreign Ministry where he was handed a note saying that in response to
provocative actions of the British side and evidence-free accusations against
the Russian Federation over the incident in the city of Salisbury on March 4
this year, the Russian side has taken the following retaliatory measures.
Twenty
three diplomats of the British Embassy in Moscow have been declared personae
non gratae and will be expelled within a week’s time.
Taking
into account the disparity in the number of consulates of the two countries,
Russia withdraws permission to open the British Consulate General in St.
Petersburg. Related procedures will be carried out in accordance with
international law. Due to the unregulated status of the British Council in the Russian
Federation it will be dissolved," the statement said.
Due
to the unregulated status of the British Council in the Russian Federation, its
activities are terminated," the statement said.
"The
British side has been warned that if more unfriendly actions against Russia
follow, the Russian side reserves the right of taking other retaliation
measures," the ministry added.
On
March 4, ex-Colonel Sergey Skripal of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate
convicted for spying for the United Kingdom, and his daughter Yulia were
exposed to a nerve agent. They were found unconscious on a bench near a
shopping center in Salisbury.
On
March 12, British Prime Minister Theresa May said it was highly likely that
Russia was responsible for the attack on Skripal and his daughter. She
identified the substance used in the attack as a Novichok nerve agent,
developed in the Soviet Union. PM accused Russia of "an unlawful use of
force" against her country. Later she announced that London would expel 23
Russian diplomats and take other measures against Moscow.
British
Council
The
British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations
and educational opportunities. It works with over 100 countries across the
world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil
society. Its first office in Russia was opened in 1992 in Moscow, after which
the council's branches were launched in a number of cities across the country.
Since January 1, 2008 the activities of all regional branches of the British
Council in Russia, excluding its head office in Moscow, have been terminated as
not complying with the Russian legislation.
Source: ITAR-TASS 17-03-2018
