Foreign minister recommends expulsions to Vladimir Putin, one day after US sanctions announced over allegations of interference in election
Russia’s foreign ministry has announced plans to expel 35 US diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to the US decision to kick out the same number of Russian officials over allegations of interference in the US presidential election.
The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said he was recommending the expulsions to President Vladimir Putin. Lavrov said 31 diplomats would be removed from the Russian embassy in Moscow, and four from the country’s consulate in St Petersburg, agencies reported.There was no immediate confirmation that Putin had accepted the proposal from the foreign ministry.
In response to US authorities denying Russia access to two compounds allegedly used for espionage activities, Lavrov also suggested cutting off US use of a warehouse building in Moscow and an embassy dacha on the outskirts of the Russian capital.In contrast to the huge Russian recreational compound in Maryland, with bungalows, swimming pools and numerous tennis courts, the US dacha at Serebryanny Bor is a modest affair, according to people who have visited.
“It was like a 1970s scouts hut, not at all luxurious,” said one person who attended a private party at the dacha. “It had a grubby pine floor and a couple of bedrooms, it didn’t look remotely like an embassy-level building. I can’t imagine many diplomats will miss it.”The compound includes an outdoor, wooded area where diplomats and affiliated US organisations often hold summer parties.
US intelligence services believe Russia ordered cyber-attacks on the Democratic National Committee, Hillary Clinton’s campaign and other political organisations, in an attempt to influence the election in favour of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump.
The US move, announced on Thursday, involved the sanctioning of Russia’s GRU and FSB intelligence services, individuals and companies linked to them, and the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats the US believes are engaging in espionage. They were given 72 hours to leave the country. Obama said Americans should “be alarmed by Russia’s actions”. He added that more actions would be taken, “some of which will not be publicised”.
Diplomatic expulsions are normally met with reciprocal action. In 2001, the George W Bush administration kicked out 51 Russian diplomats it said were spies. Russia responded by telling 50 US diplomats to leave Russia.
