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Russia suspends its mission at NATO, shuts alliance's office
NATO earlier this month withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its headquarters, accusing them of secretly working as Russian intelligence officers.
www.politico.com
NATO earlier this month withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its headquarters, accusing them of secretly working as Russian intelligence officers.
10/18/21
MOSCOW — Russia on Monday suspended its mission at NATO and ordered the closure of the alliance's office in Moscow in retaliation for NATO's expulsion of Russian diplomats. Earlier this month, NATO withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its Brussels headquarters, saying it believes they have been secretly working as Russian intelligence officers. NATO also halved the size of Moscow’s team at its headquarters from 20 to 10.Earlier this month, NATO withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its Brussels headquarters, saying it believes they have been secretly working as Russian intelligence officers. NATO also halved the size of Moscow’s team at its headquarters from 20 to 10. NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said the alliance has taken note of Lavrov’s statement, but added it hasn’t yet received an official notice from Moscow.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Luxembourg that “this decision taken in Moscow will further prolong the difficult situation we’re in, this frosty period that’s been going on for some time,” adding that “this will put a further serious strain on relations.” [U“Germany has repeatedly pushed for dialogue with Russia within NATO over the past years,” Maas noted. "We have to recognize once more, that Russia apparently no longer is. That is more than regrettable.”[/U] NATO suspended practical cooperation with Russia in 2014 after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, but has kept channels open for high-level meetings and for military-to-military cooperation. But the NATO-Russia Council, their preferred forum, has only met sporadically since then.
The Russian spies should have been booted out of NATO/Brussels long ago.
Foreign Minister Lavrov never told us how many Western diplomats work at the Russian Ministry of Defense, Khamovniki District, Moscow.
Oh that's right, exactly zero. Such a thing has never been allowed.
10/18