Canada will expel Russian diplomats in tandem with the US and European countries, following an attack on a former Russian spy in the UK with a nerve agent, which Western powers blame on Moscow.
Four Russian diplomats “identified as intelligence officers or individuals who have used their diplomatic status to undermine Canada’s security or interfere in our democracy” will be expelled from Russia’s embassy in Ottawa and consulate in Montreal, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement Monday.
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Canada will also deny credentials for three other diplomats, which had been requested by Russia.
“We are taking these measures in solidarity with the United Kingdom,” Freeland said, following the chemical attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury, UK, on March 4.
“The nerve agent attack in Salisbury, on the soil of Canada’s close partner and ally, is a despicable, heinous and reckless act, potentially endangering the lives of hundreds,” Freeland said.
Moscow has denied any links to the attack and has asked the UK to provide evidence about the crime to Russian authorities.
Canada’s move comes as the US expelled 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. US President Donald Trump, who is being investigated for his alleged ties to Russia, did not tweet about the expulsions on Monday morning.
Fourteen European Union countries, including France and Germany, also expelled Russian diplomats on Monday, as did the Ukraine.
Russia has promised reciprocal diplomatic moves against the US and its allies.
“Naturally, such a hostile move on part of this group of countries won’t go unanswered,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in comments carried by state media. “There’s no objective and exhaustive data on it (the killing of Skripal) at the disposal of the Britain’s allies, who blindly follow the principles of the Euro-Atlantic unity harming common sense, principles of civilized dialogue between states and international law.”
