Four EU member states are coordinating action against Russian diplomats on suspicion of espionage. Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic issued expulsion orders for a total of 43 embassy staff.
Belgium has announced a list of 21 Russian diplomats who must leave the country, the Netherlands – 17, Ireland – four. The Czech Republic, long before the war, sharply reduced the staff of the Russian embassy, expelled the alleged spy. Meanwhile, North Macedonia said it declared five Russians persona non grata last Monday.
Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès told Parliament that the expulsion was for national security reasons. The employees of the Russian embassy in Brussels and the consulate in Antwerp have two weeks to prepare for departure. The reason is that he considers them “secretly operating” Kremlin intelligence officers.
So far, Poland is in the lead in the list of expelled Russian diplomats – 45th place. Such actions were taken by the Bulgarian government.