Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a law allowing the country to limit the number of Russian diplomatic personnel in embassies, consulates, and agencies of countries deemed to be “unfriendly” to the Russian Federation or ban their employment entirely. According to the new rules, the Kremlin will determine the “number of individuals who are on the territory of the Russian Federation and with whom contracts can be concluded” as well as the list of “unfriendly foreign states.”
The legislation comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Russia and European and Western powers. Moscow has been embroiled in a tense tiff with Prague in recent days after Russian GRU military intelligence agents were accused of playing a role in a massive ammunition depot explosion in the Czech Republic in 2014. Prague immediately expelled 18 Russian embassy staff, and Moscow retaliated by swiftly throwing 20 Czech staff members out of Moscow, leaving the embassy paralysed.
Though the Czech foreign ministry demanded Russia to allow the individuals to return last week, their requests went unanswered. The country then ordered the expulsion of 63 more Russian diplomats, who now have until the end of May to leave. “It’s the Russian side that has paralyzed the situation, not the Czech side,” Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek told Associated Press. In response, Moscow summoned the Czech ambassador to formally denounce Prague, and made clear that it reserved “the right for other moves in case of further escalation.”
Moscow’s friction with Prague has also led to several Baltic nations showing their support for the Czech Republic by expelling Russian diplomats from their countries. Slovakia became the first NATO ally to do so after it kicked out three diplomats on Thursday. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania soon followed suit. “Russia has committed a grave violation of international law on the territory of a European Union and NATO member state, undermining the sovereignty of the Czech Republic,” the Estonian foreign ministry said in a statement. “Actions of this kind are harmful to the security and stability of Europe and are unacceptable,” it added. Estonia and Latvia each expelled one diplomat, while Lithuania expelled two.
Apart from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland and the United States (US) have also seen diplomats being kicked out due to a rise in bilateral tensions. However, Russia has refused to take the blame for any friction, and has instead called on foreign countries to refrain from “mass anti-Russia psychosis.”
Putin Signs Law to Limit Diplomatic Staff in “Unfriendly” Countries
The legislation comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Russia and European and Western powers.
April 26, 2021
SOURCE: BLOOMBERG