Spat over spy attack deepens, Russia orders Britain to cut over 50 diplomats from its embassy staff
Moscow, April 1: In a spat between two countries over confiscating diplomats over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, the intensity gets deep as Russia has told Britain it must send home "just over 50" more of its diplomats in a worsening standoff with the West.
The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Laurie Bristow on Friday and told him London had one month to cut its diplomatic contingent in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain. It also expelled 59 diplomats from 23 other countries for backing Britain.
On Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Reuters that meant Britain would have to cut "a little over 50" of its diplomats in Russia."We asked for parity. The Brits have 50 diplomats more than the Russians," said Zakharova.
When asked if that meant London would have to bring home exactly 50 diplomats, she said: "A little over 50."
In all, more than 150 Russian diplomats have been ordered out of the US, EU members, NATO countries and other nations in solidarity with Britain over the spy attack on British soil in early March.
Earlier this month Russia expelled 23 British diplomats, closed a British consulate in Saint Petersburg and halted the activities of British Council.
London says Moscow was responsible for the attack, the first known use of a military grade nerve agent on European soil since the second world war.
Russia has flatly denied that and has cast the allegations as part of an elaborate Western plot to sabotage East-West relations and isolate Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Laurie Bristow on Friday and told him London had one month to cut its diplomatic contingent in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain.