Russia’s government is expelling 23 British diplomats in direct retaliation against Theresa May. The foreign ministry in Russia said the diplomats have a week to leave in a growing diplomatic dispute over the Salisbury attack.
Officials also ordered the British Council in Russia to close and ended an agreement to reopen the British consulate in St Petersburg. In a statement, they threatened to take further measures if Britain takes any more ‘unfriendly’ moves toward Russia. Mrs May this week expelled 23 Russian diplomats and severed high-level contacts over the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
They remain in critical condition in hospital. Earlier today, the British ambassador to Moscow was summoned for urgent talks with Russia’s foreign ministry.
Speaking after the crisis talks, ambassador Laurie Bristow said the UK will ‘always do what is necessary to defend ourselves, our allies and our values against an attack of this sort’. Following the 2006 poisoning of Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko in London, Mrs May has pointed the finger at President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has denied any involvement in the attempted murder.
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