Russia Expels US Diplomats in Moscow... "Hostile Retaliation"

Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Russia has issued an expulsion order for some staff members of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. This is a retaliatory measure following the U.S. expulsion of 12 Russian diplomats stationed at the United Nations on charges of espionage at the end of last month.

On the 23rd (local time), the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release, "We have informed the senior diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow of the list of American diplomats designated as 'persona non grata' (unwelcome persons) who will be expelled."

The Ministry did not disclose the number of U.S. diplomats to be expelled. However, it explained that "the hostile actions of the United States against Russia will trigger corresponding responses," indicating that this measure is in response to the U.S. expelling Russian diplomats.

Earlier, on the 28th of last month, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations announced, "We have designated 12 diplomats from the Russian Mission as persona non grata and notified them to leave U.S. territory by the 7th," adding, "They abused their privileges residing in the U.S. for negative espionage activities against our national security."

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia have been expelling each other's diplomats, escalating tensions.

The Wall Street Journal reported, "The number of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow once reached 1,200, but after Russia prohibited the hiring of local staff, it sharply declined to 120," and noted that this latest measure will further reduce the embassy's personnel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.