UK officially expels 23 Russian diplomats

The poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal continues to escalate tensions between the UK and Russia, as yesterday, after warnings, British Prime Minister Theresa May officially expelled 23 Russian diplomats in the UK and suspended high-level diplomatic contacts with Russia. Meanwhile, the UK also announced that it would take appropriate countermeasures.

Speaking to the British Parliament, Prime Minister Theresa May said that Russia had not responded to the British government's request for an explanation about the Soviet-era chemical agent called Novichok found in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal. Therefore, 23 Russian diplomats, whom the UK believes to be intelligence officers, will have to leave the UK within a week.

“Under the Vienna Convention, the UK will expel 23 Russian diplomats identified as unnamed intelligence officers. They have one week to leave British territory. This is the largest expulsion in 30 years and reflects the fact that this is not the first time Russia has acted against our country,” Prime Minister Theresa May announced.

Prime Minister Theresa May has also warned that she will freeze Russian assets in the UK and has withdrawn an invitation to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit the UK. However, she has insisted that she does not want to completely sever diplomatic relations with Russia.

In response to the UK's decision, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had received a list of the expelled staff and would soon take appropriate retaliatory measures. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said: "Those expelled from the UK are Russian diplomats. The British side has asked them to leave the UK territory within seven days. We are also preparing countermeasures and of course we will inform the British side about this soon."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there had been no progress towards resolving the dispute with the UK over the poisoning of former Russian spy colonel Skripal and his daughter Yulia. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the UK's accusations that Russia may have been involved in the poisoning were politically motivated, aimed at misleading international public opinion. Foreign Minister Lavrov also affirmed that Russia had no motive to kill Skripal and that this was a plan to spread anti-Russian propaganda.

At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council held the same day, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia also affirmed that the British suspicions were "completely unacceptable" and asked the British to provide solid evidence. He affirmed that it was impossible to baselessly accuse Russia of being behind the poisoning.

Meanwhile, the international community also had a number of different reactions to the tension between Britain and Russia related to the poisoning of former spy Spipal.

China's Ambassador to the United Nations Ma Zhaoxu said China hopes relevant parties will conduct a comprehensive investigation based on facts and in accordance with international rules so that a conclusion can be reached based on verifiable evidence.

Meanwhile, Britain's Western allies, the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), have declared their support for Britain. However, Germany and France believe that communication and dialogue channels with Russia should continue to be maintained to resolve differences between the two sides before deciding on retaliatory measures.

According to observers, with the strong accusations from the UK and Russia's rather harsh response to the recent tense incident, it is difficult to avoid cracks in the relationship between the two sides. Therefore, both Russia and the UK must restrain themselves to avoid further escalating the diplomatic tension that has lasted for many days between the two countries related to the poisoning of former spy Skripal./.

Vu Anh Tuan