Germany, Lithuania and Latvia expel Russian diplomats

“Lithuania stands in full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, who are victims of unprecedented Russian aggression. “Therefore, we are reducing the level of diplomatic representation in Russia,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.

“Unfortunately, what the world saw in Buça can only be the beginning. We will be able to find evidence of other war crimes in other cities when they are liberated. “War crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine will not be forgotten.”

Published photos have shown the bodies of several slain civilians who had their hands tied behind their backs. These scenes have added to calls for new sanctions against Russia and for prosecuting the perpetrators.

After Lithuania announced the expulsion of the ambassador, Latvia said it was “reducing diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation” due to the unprovoked Russian occupation of Ukraine, and the German government declared 40 Russian diplomats “undesirable persons”.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry said it would provide more details about the move once “internal procedures” were completed.

The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, said that the German Government has decided to declare “a large number of members of the Russian Embassy as undesirable persons, as those who have worked every day in Germany against our freedom and against the cohesion of our society. “, Said Baerbock.

“This will no longer be tolerated,” she added.

Berlin’s decision has been announced to Russian Ambassador Sergei Nethayev, who has been summoned for talks at the Foreign Ministry, Baerbock said. Persons declared “non grata” will have five days to leave Germany.

These diplomats are suspected of being members of the Russian intelligence services./REL

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