Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has criticised the Russian government after diplomats from several European countries were expelled from the country for allegedly joining protests in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
The Russian foreign ministry said Polish, German and Swedish officials took part in what it described as “illegal demonstrations” in St Petersburg and Moscow on 23 January.
Mr Raab has followed German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Sweden‘s government in condemning the expulsion, saying the UK stood “in solidarity with our European friends in the face of this unjustified action”.
Alexei Navalny was jailed for three-and-a-half years
“The expulsion of German, Polish and Swedish diplomats from Russia for simply doing their jobs is a crude attempt to distract from Russia’s targeting of opposition leaders, protesters and journalists,” tweeted Mr Raab.
“We stand in solidarity with our European friends in the face of this unjustified action.
“This is the latest in a series of actions, since the poisoning of @Navalny, which shows the Russian government turning its back on international law.”
Poland’s foreign ministry said it expects Moscow to reverse “this erroneous decision,” as it demanded talks with its Russian ambassador.
“Otherwise,” officials in Warsaw said, “Poland leaves itself the option to take appropriate steps,” meaning a likely tit-for-tat expulsion of a Russian.
Ms Merkel found out about the expulsion while having talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who told reporters: “I stand in solidarity with the three countries that have had their diplomats expelled.”
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