"They are destroying the structure of international relations": the Federation Council commented on the expulsion of a Russian diplomat by North Macedonia

The authorities of North Macedonia announced the expulsion of one Russian diplomat from the country.

The information was confirmed by the Russian Embassy in Skopje.

“We confirm the expulsion of one Russian diplomat by the authorities of North Macedonia.

The Russian side is considering reciprocal steps, ”the diplomatic mission of RIA Novosti said.

A post on the website of the North Macedonian Foreign Ministry says that the decision to declare the diplomat persona non grata was made in accordance with the ninth article of the Vienna Convention. 

“In this regard, on May 14, 2021, the Russian ambassador was invited to the Foreign Ministry and he was handed a note demanding that the said diplomat leave the territory of North Macedonia within seven days,” the ministry said.

Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, in an interview with RT, noted that Skopje "does not value relations with Russia." 

“We got infected with anti-Russian and anti-diplomatic infection.

Obviously, they want to please the European Union.

To be honest, such decisions do not paint the leadership of North Macedonia.

And we, of course, will answer, ”the senator said.

He stressed that such actions of the EU countries "destroy the structure of international relations."

“The expulsion of diplomats out of some kind of solidarity is a strange phenomenon in diplomacy as such,” added Tsekov.

First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee Vladimir Dzhabarov expressed the opinion that Skopje would regret the decision to expel the Russian diplomat, as it would definitely not improve relations between the countries.

“This solidarity is not good for Macedonia.

Such steps once again show that these countries are not independent in politics, for sure this is the influence of the United States, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

In response to this expulsion, Moscow will unequivocally respond in a mirror-like manner, the senator stressed.

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North Macedonia last expelled a Russian diplomat in March 2018.

Then the republic's Foreign Ministry said that the decision was made out of a sense of solidarity with Great Britain, which had also expelled Russian diplomats because of the Skripal case.

The British side accused Russia of being involved in the poisoning of former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

Moscow has repeatedly drawn attention to the absurdity and unsubstantiation of London's accusations.

Diplomatic scandals in 2021

Let us remind you that in April the aggravation of relations occurred between Russia and the Czech Republic.

On April 17, the Czech authorities accused Russian intelligence officers of alleged involvement in the explosions at the ammunition depot in Vrbetica in 2014. 

Prague refused to disclose the details of the investigation into the incident, but announced the expulsion of 18 diplomats. 

The Russian Foreign Ministry called the actions of the Czech side unfriendly and declared 20 employees of the Czech Embassy in Russia persona non grata.

On April 22, the Czech Foreign Ministry announced a reduction in the number of Russian diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Prague to the number of Czech diplomats in Moscow.

In particular, the head of the Czech Foreign Ministry, Jakub Kulganek, said that 63 employees of the Russian embassy should leave the Czech Republic. 

The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova then stressed that Prague "continues to promote the anti-Russian campaign under falsified pretexts."

At the same time, against the background of a diplomatic scandal in the European Parliament, they called on the EU countries to "take action" against Russia. 

After that, Prime Minister of Slovakia Eduard Heger announced that Bratislava was expelling three Russian diplomats.

Later, a similar decision was announced by the foreign ministries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. 

On April 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced retaliatory measures.

The department explained that on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, Moscow is sending two employees of the Lithuanian embassy, ​​as well as one employee of the diplomatic missions of Latvia and Estonia.

The heads of the embassies of these countries were declared "a strong protest in connection with the provocative, unfounded actions" on the expulsion of the employees of the Russian embassies.

Also, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared three employees of the Slovak Embassy in Moscow persona non grata. 

On April 29, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry declared one Russian diplomat persona non grata.

Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov noted that the actions of Prague and Sofia cause irritation, regret and misunderstanding in Moscow.

“Without a reaction, such absolutely unacceptable provocative steps and absolutely unacceptable groundless, unsubstantiated accusations against Russia will not remain.

In any case, any actions of Russia will be carried out in our own interests, ”said the Kremlin spokesman.

Against the background of these events, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree prohibiting the hiring of administrative and technical personnel from citizens of Russia and third countries to diplomatic missions of states that are recognized as committing unfriendly actions against the Russian Federation and its citizens.

On May 13, the United States and the Czech Republic were recognized as such countries.