"Based on the principle of reciprocity": Russia announced the expulsion of an employee of the Ukrainian Embassy

An employee of the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow has been declared persona non grata in response to Kiev's decision to expel an employee of the Russian embassy from the country.

This was reported by the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"In connection with the unfriendly actions of the Ukrainian side ... and on the basis of the principle of reciprocity for activities incompatible with diplomatic status, an employee of the Ukrainian Embassy in Russia has been declared persona non grata," the Foreign Ministry said.

It is noted that he must leave the territory of the Russian Federation by the end of the day on April 30.

Along with this, the Foreign Ministry warned that additional measures could be taken against Kiev if the escalation continues.

“The Ukrainian side has been warned that in the event of continuing hostile actions against employees of Russian diplomatic and consular missions in Ukraine, on the basis of reciprocity, additional measures will be taken against the personnel of Ukrainian embassies, consulates general and consulates in Russia,” the ministry said.

However, a representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, has already announced his intention to respond to the latest expulsion of an embassy employee.

According to him, the expulsion of the Russian diplomat from Ukraine will be announced in the near future.

In addition, Nikolenko called the deportation of an employee of the Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow a provocation.

Note that on April 26, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of the diplomat in response to a similar action by the Ukrainian side on April 19.

Then Kiev declared the adviser of the Russian embassy persona non grata because of activities allegedly incompatible with diplomatic status.

The Russian Foreign Ministry then stressed: "The accusations against the Russian diplomat are unfounded and groundless."

The Foreign Ministry also drew attention to the fact that Kiev made a decision to declare persona non grata the counselor of the Russian Embassy as a symmetrical response to the announcement of the undesirability of the consul of the Consulate General of Ukraine in St. Petersburg staying on the territory of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, Russian diplomats recalled, a Ukrainian consular officer was detained for committing illegal actions.

According to the FSB, he tried to obtain information of a classified nature during a meeting with a Russian citizen.

Also on russian.rt.com The Foreign Ministry commented on the decree on Russia's measures against unfriendly countries

Against the backdrop of these events, Russia also declared persona non grata the Assistant Defense Attaché and Naval Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Russia.

As the Russian Foreign Ministry explained, this decision was made "as a response to the unfriendly and unjustified actions of the Italian authorities in relation to the military attaché at the Russian Embassy in Rome."

Recall that at the end of March, Rome announced the expulsion of two employees of the Russian diplomatic mission.

Shortly before this, the Russian Embassy confirmed the detention of an employee of the military attaché's office in Rome, saying that the circumstances of the incident were being established.

Also on Monday, April 26, it became known about the expulsion of the assistant to the military attaché of Russia in Bucharest.

According to the Romanian side, the actions of the Russian diplomat allegedly contradict the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Commenting on this situation, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the Romanian ambassador to the Russian Federation "is well acquainted with the procedure for retaliatory measures."

Russian Foreign Ministry on the procedure for travel of US Embassy staff

In addition, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and US Charge d'Affaires in Russia Bart Gorman held a meeting, during which the parties discussed some topical issues of bilateral relations.

In particular, Russian diplomats handed the American side a note on amendments to the current procedure for travel across Russia for employees of the US embassy and consular offices.

Along with this, the Foreign Ministry informed the American side that "in the near future, further decisions are expected in the development of the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry of April 16, of which the US Embassy will be promptly notified."

Recall that in mid-April, the Russian Foreign Ministry published a list of responses to the next US sanctions imposed by Washington.

Among the measures mentioned by Moscow was the expulsion of US diplomatic officials "in an amount commensurate with the action carried out by the American authorities against Russian diplomats."

Russia also decided to limit the practice of using the US Embassy "short-term seconded by the State Department to ensure the functioning of diplomatic missions."

In addition, measures will be taken to completely end the practice of hiring by US diplomatic missions administrative and technical workers from among Russians and citizens of third countries.