EU-Russia: Moscow inflicts a real snub on the Twenty-Seven
Josep Borrell (left) facing Sergei Lavrov, February 5, 2021 in Moscow.
Russia announced the expulsion of three European diplomats at the same time as the visit of the envoy of the Twenty-Seven.
AFP - HANDOUT
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Russia has decided to expel three European diplomats accusing them of participating in a demonstration in support of the imprisoned opponent Alexeï Navalny.
The three countries concerned believe that they were fulfilling their function by observing the demonstrations and consider these expulsions unfounded.
Notably, they were announced while the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrel, was visiting Moscow.
Publicity
Read more
With our correspondent in Brussels,
Pierre Benazet
This triple expulsion is all the more a snub for the European Union as Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, carefully awaited his meeting with the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell to announce it.
The message of the Kremlin could not be clearer, it is "
mind your own business
" that Russia says in reaction to the decision of the Twenty-Seven who had officially asked jointly, Thursday, February 4, the release of Alexei Navalny.
Outstretched hand strategy
The EU had chosen the strategy of an outstretched hand by sending Josep Borrell to Moscow, the first visit by a high representative for the Union's foreign policy since 2017. The head of European diplomacy has done his best to discuss the possibilities for cooperation, in terms of research, academic exchanges or on the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, but he was forced to note - in the form of an assessment - that EU-Russia relations are at their lowest.
His visit was placed under the sign of the preparation of the strategic discussion on the relationship between the Union and Russia that the Twenty-Seven will hold at their summit at the end of March 2021, but the Navalny affair and now that of the expulsions is guiding already the tone of the debates.
Read also: The head of European diplomacy in Moscow in a difficult context
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
European Union
Russia
Alexei Navalny
Diplomacy
On the same subject
Covid-19: Russian Sputnik V vaccine 91% effective according to "Lancet" study
Russia: Western countries condemn repression of pro-Navalny protests
The conviction of Alexei Navalny causes an outcry in the West