3 EU countries expel 42 Russian diplomats over espionage

European Union countries Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands on Tuesday announced the expulsion of over three dozen Russian diplomats due to alleged spying, reports The Moscow Times.

Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes said her country has expelled 21 diplomats from the Russia’s embassy in Brussels and consulate in Antwerp. They have been given two weeks to leave Belgium.

The Netherlands announced the expulsion of 17 Russian diplomats, who were allegedly spying in the country.

Ireland expelled four senior diplomats from Russia’s embassy in Dublin. They have been told to leave Ireland for engaging in activities “not... in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour” — code for spying.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United States in early March expelled 12 Russian diplomats based in New York terming them ‘intelligence operatives’. Russia also retaliated by announcing a group of American diplomats ‘persona non grata’.

Russia has been facing a raft of sanctions from the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia and Canada for its invasion of Ukraine.