Russia confirms it will expel British diplomats in retaliation

MOSCOW — Moscow will expel British diplomats in retaliation for a similar move made by London earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday, without specifying how many or any other measures in the deepening crisis between the two countries.

Asked by a journalist at a press conference if Russia would kick out British diplomats, Lavrov said simply “of course, we will.”

The confirmation comes as part of a delayed and still unfolding response to a variety of coordinated Western measures against Moscow following the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain last week. The spy, 66-year-old Sergei Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent identified by British authorities as one made only by Russia.

Russia has been coy about its potential responses since Wednesday, when British Prime Minister Theresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in London believed to be part of Russia’s intelligence network there. There has been much talk in Moscow of imminent and decisive responses, but so far nothing of substance has taken place.

[New Russia sanctions are Trump’s strongest action against Moscow so far]

The government has also been vague about its response to Washington’s expansion of sanctions against Russian individuals believed to have played a role in alleged cyber attacks and attempts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Friday Moscow’s would expand its own “black list” of Americans, adding that additional measures had not yet been ruled out. “Those [American] politicians are playing with fire,” he said.

Alexander Gabuev, a Russian foreign policy analyst with the Carnegie Moscow Center, says that the delay is likely related to Sunday’s presidential election. “They’re either saving the response for closer to the big day, or want to minimize negative news until after the election.” And because May delivered the British response, Putin will want to deliver Russia’s.

“Also, simply expelling 23 British diplomats probably won’t be enough,” Gabuev said. “There are other elements to Britain’s reaction and you need to give a ‘mirror’ response to that as well.”

Russia instead has focused its efforts on a campaign of denial and counterclaim which has at times seen officials contradicting each other.

On Thursday, Ryabkov claimed Russia had never developed anything like the alleged nerve agent, identified by the British as Novichok. Shortly after, a lawmaker claimed the United States stole samples while helping to decommission the facility where it was made in the 1990s. Most statements have fallen somewhere in between the two extremes.

Lavrov on Friday continued to deny and deflect blame, claiming again that British allegations of Russian involvement in Skripal’s poisoning were groundless and anti-Russian. He wished the Skripals a speedy recovery and said he hopes they can shed light on what happened when they are well.

Lavrov also lashed out at Britain for not providing consular access to Yulia.

[What a brave Russian scientist told me about Novichok]

The Skripals were found slumped over on a park bench in the cathedral town of Salisbury near the famed ruin of Stonehenge. An officer who attempted to revive them remains in the hospital. Several areas in the town are also still cordoned off as police continue their investigation.

The United States, France and Germany on Thursday formally backed Britain’s claims that Russia likely was responsible for the attack, calling it the “first offensive use of a nerve agent” in Europe since World War II.

In a statement, the four leaders said they shared the view of British investigators that “there is no plausible alternative explanation” for the attack. They added that “Russia’s failure to address the legitimate request by the U.K. government further underlines its responsibility.”

“It threatens the security of us all,” they added, without spelling out any possible further reprisals.

Read more

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