By Darya Tarasova and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN
Moscow (CNN) Russia ordered the expulsion of diplomats from at least 19 countries Friday as a reciprocal move after those countries expelled Russian diplomats in solidarity with the United Kingdom over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent. More than 20 countries announced this week that they would expel Russian diplomats in support of Britain, which blames Moscow for the March 4 nerve agent attack against Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, on British soil. Russia denies involvement.
According to Russia’s state-run Sputnik news outlet, Russia has now expelled the following: 13 Ukrainian, four Canadian, four Polish, four German, three Lithuanian, three Czech, three Moldovan, two Italian, two Dutch, two Spanish and two Danish diplomats. Also expelled are one Finn, one Latvian, one Swede, one Norwegian, one Romanian, one Croatian and one Irish diplomat, as well as an Estonian military attache.
Moscow reserved the right to respond to Belgium, Hungary, Montenegro and Georgia with regard to their actions over the Skripal case, Sputnik said.The wave of expulsions comes a day after Russia announced that it would expel 60 US diplomats and close the US consulate in St. Petersburg in retaliation for a similar step by Washington, which said Monday it would be expelling 60 Russian diplomats and closing the Russian consulate in Seattle.
“This message from Moscow is not surprising,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in response to the expulsion of German envoys. “We had not taken the decision to expel the Russian diplomats lightly. Our reaction in the case of Skripal was necessary and appropriate as a political signal.”
Maas said the decision was made in solidarity with Britain and because Russia had “refused to give any clarification” on the matter. “Nevertheless, even in the current situation, we remain committed to dialogue with Russia and will work for European security and a constructive future for relations between our countries,” he said.
Russia’s state-run Tass news agency reported that Russia had also demanded that Britain reduce the number of staff in its Moscow embassy to match the number of Russian diplomats remaining in London.UK Prime Minister Theresa May ordered the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats on March 14, describing them as “undeclared intelligence officers.” Russia in turn ordered 23 British diplomats to leave Moscow and closed the UK Consulate in St. Petersbu
