Russia has expelled several EU diplomats during the visit of the bloc’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell in Moscow. In response, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis tweeted that the EU’s reputation had been “shaken”.
According to the EUobserver, the decision to expel the diplomats was announced during the joint press conference of the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Friday.
Lavrov also roasted Borrell over alleged EU human rights abuses at the press briefing, according to the reporters in Brussels.
After the news broke, Landsbergis tweeted: “Nothing gained, opportunities missed, reputation shaken” and “three diplomats lost”.
Nothing gained, opportunities missed, reputation shaken.
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@GLandsbergis) February 5, 2021
Read more: If EU doesn't act, Lithuania will impose national sanctions on Russia – FM
On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Swedish ambassador, the charge d'affaires of Poland, and the German envoy were summoned to the ministry where a protest was lodged with the diplomats in connection with the “recorded participation of diplomatic employees” in the rallies on January 23.
Subsequently, a diplomat from each of the three embassies was declared a persona non grata.
The Baltic states had previously called on Borrell to cancel his trip.
Read more: EU's chief diplomat 'annoyed' by Baltic call to cancel Moscow trip
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