In a major retaliation, Russia does ‘Tit for Tat’ with the US and other Western countries; expels 150 diplomats

Moscow, March 30: In major retaliation to the expulsion of Russian diplomats, Moscow on Thursday announced to expel 150 western diplomats including 60 Americans and close the US consulate in St Petersburg.

 

Notably, the move come few days after 125 Russian diplomats from Western countries and Nato allies of Britain following allegation over the use of nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the US ambassador had been informed of the retaliatory measures.

Sergei Lavrov further added that US ambassador Jon Huntsman has been summoned to the foreign ministry where he was given notice that Russia is responding ‘Tit-For-Tat’ to the US decision to order 60 Russian diplomats expulsion.

He noted that Moscow will also respond to the US decision to shut the Russian consulate in Seattle by closing the US consulate in St Petersburg. The same approach will be applied to other nations that expelled Russian diplomats this week, he concluded.

On March 26, over 125 Russian diplomats have been expelled from Western countries following allegation over the use of nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain. The US took this action in solidarity with Britain, as it has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats. The United States expelled 60 Russian diplomats, describing them as intelligence officers and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle.

This was the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of Cold War. The countries include the United States and several European countries. However, Russia in reply warned the US for the step and said that there will be a response to everything and appropriate measures will be taken on each country.

Importantly, Moscow has denied being behind the attack on Sergei Skirpal and his daughter in Salisbury in Britain. 66-year old Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia Skripal were found unconscious on a public bench in a shopping center on 4th of this month and remain critically ill in hospital.