by Stefano Montefiori
After France and Germany, our country is also preparing to expel several dozen Russian diplomats working in the embassy in Rome. The list will be announced today
Dozens of Russian diplomats face expulsion from France, Germany and Italy. Paris announced yesterday that it has compiled a list of 35 people working at the Russian embassy whose activities run counter to our security interests, French Foreign Ministry sources Quai d’Orsay said. This action is part of a European initiative, our first responsibility is always to ensure the safety of French and Europeans, specifies the Quai d’Orsay, who wishes to recall how the decision was taken in consultation with European partners.
The latest news about the war in Ukraine
The French government’s announcement comes just minutes after a similar statement by Germany, which concerned about forty diplomats from Moscow. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that these employees of the Russian embassy in Berlin pose a danger to those seeking protection in Germany, and referred to the approximately 300,000 Ukrainian refugees who left their country after the February 24 invasion.
Italy is also preparing to expel about a dozen Russian diplomats working at the embassy in Rome. The list was drawn up by our government yesterday and will be announced today. According to the courier, our security apparatuses helped compile the list. Both the Palazzo Chigi and the Farnesina had contacts to Berlin and Paris, the move was also the result of coordination and collaboration with the French and German governments.
All Moscow diplomats working in Italy who are expelled are declared persona non grata and are considered members of the Kremlin’s secret services. The Prime Minister also had a meeting yesterday about the decision with Franco Gabrielli, Secretary of State to the Prime Minister and delegated authority for the security of the Republic. Today, Mario Draghi will be heard by Copasir, the parliamentary committee overseeing the security services.
If France, Germany and Italy expel diplomats, Lithuania has instead decided to take the same action directly with the Russian ambassador in Vilnius. In response to Russia’s military aggression against sovereign Ukraine and the atrocities committed by the Russian military in several occupied Ukrainian cities, including the horrific Bucha massacre, the Lithuanian government has decided to reduce diplomatic representation and the ambassador of the Russian Federation has to Lithuania leave , said Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
April 5, 2022 (change April 5, 2022 | 10:29)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED