Russia orders out 60 U.S. diplomats over spy poisoning affair

[webfact]

Russia orders out 60 U.S. diplomats over spy poisoning affair

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Christian Lowe

 

Policemen stand guard outside the building of the consulate-general of the U.S. in St. Petersburg,Russia March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia expelled 60 U.S. diplomats on Thursday and announced it would eject scores from other countries that have joined London and Washington in censuring Moscow over the poisoning of a spy.

 

The U.S. ambassador was also ordered to shut the consulate in St Petersburg, in Russia's retaliation for the biggest expulsion of diplomats since the Cold War.

 

The response, which precisely mirrored steps taken by Western governments against Russian diplomats, appeared to show Moscow was not seeking to escalate the standoff over the nerve agent poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England.

 

Washington, however, indicated that it is could retaliate for Russia's "regrettable, unwarranted action," raising the possibility that the crisis could intensify.

 

"We reserve the right to respond further. We're reviewing our options," said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, who charged that the attack on the Skripals violated an international chemical weapons ban. She declined to discuss what additional measures the Trump administration could take.

 

Britain has blamed Russia for the poisoning, and has been backed up by dozens of Western countries which have ordered Russian diplomats to leave. The United States charges that the 60 Russians that it targeted are intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover.

 

"The United States, in concert with many countries, made the decision to kick out Russian spies," said Nauert. "We don't see this as a diplomatic tit-for-tat."

 

Moscow denies involvement in the attack on the Skripals.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing a stuttering economy and an unusual show of Western unity that included even states traditionally friendly towards Moscow, appeared to have stuck to the diplomatic playbook with the symmetrical response.

 

Ambassador Jon Hunstman was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, a gothic skyscraper built under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, and told that 60 diplomats from U.S. missions had a week to leave Russia, as Washington had expelled 60 Russians.

 

At a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Huntsman was also told that the U.S. consulate in St Petersburg would be closed -- a like-for-like retaliation for the U.S. closure of Russia's consulate in the U.S. city of Seattle.

 

"As for the other countries, everything will also be symmetrical in terms of the number of people from their diplomatic missions who will be leaving Russia, and for now that's pretty much it," said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

 

That approach will mean that, among other countries affected, France, Germany and Poland would each have four of their diplomats in Moscow sent home, Ukraine would forfeit 13 diplomats, and Denmark, Albania and Spain would each have two of their embassy staff expelled.

 

Russia has already retaliated in kind after Britain initially expelled 23 diplomats.

 

DAUGHTER BETTER

 

Skripal, 66, a double agent who was swapped in a spy exchange deal in 2010 and went to live in England, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, were found unconscious on a public bench in a shopping centre in Salisbury on March 4.

 

Former Russian military intelligence officer Skripal remains in a critical condition but his daughter is getting better, the hospital where they are being treated said on Thursday.

 

British authorities say a Soviet-era nerve toxin called Novichok was used in an attempt to murder the pair.

 

British Prime Minister Theresa May said that Russia was culpable for the attack and urged allies to join in condemning Moscow for the first known offensive use of a chemical weapon on European soil since World War Two.

 

Russia says Britain has failed to produce any persuasive evidence of Russia's guilt. Officials in Moscow accused London and Washington of pressuring other nations to sign up to an international campaign of "Russophobia" which, they said, could drag the world into a new Cold War.

 

Announcing the expulsions of Western diplomats on Thursday, Lavrov said the Skripal poisoning was being exploited by an "Anglo-Saxon axis forcing everyone to follow an anti-Russian path."

 

British counter-terrorism police said they believed the military-grade nerve agent that poisoned the Skripals had been left on the front door of Sergei Skripal's home, on a quiet street in Salisbury, southern England.

 

"Specialists have identified the highest concentration of the nerve agent, to date, as being on the front door of the address," Scotland Yard said in a statement.

 

Police said they had placed a cordon around a children’s play area near the Skripals' house as a precaution.

 

Christine Blanshard, Medical Director for Salisbury District Hospital, where the two victims are being treated, said in a statement that Yulia Skripal's condition had improved after three week in a critical condition.

 

"She has responded well to treatment but continues to receive expert clinical care 24 hours a day," said Blanshard.

 

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay in Washington; editing by Peter Graff and Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-30

[RobFord]

They say that woman and cowards poison.

 

http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/09/a-brief-history-of-attempted-russian-assassinations-by-poison/

[kannot]

Not  just Thais who behave like children, nothing changes does it, people and their stupid ferking egos

[kannot]

2 hours ago, StraightTalk said:

Isn't Russia notorious for evil actions?

STALIN!!!

[mok199]

checkmate

[Morch]

45 minutes ago, mok199 said:

checkmate

 

You don't play much chess, do you?

[Tchooptip]

"the biggest expulsion of diplomats since the Cold War"

It would have been necessary for the cold war to stop one day which I am far from being sure sure

[ravip]

"Isn't Russia notorious for evil actions?"

 

REALLY?

All 'others' are well behaved Cherubs?

 

 

 

[Scott]

A post violating fair use and not sourced has been removed.   Continue and face a suspension.

 

[milwaukeeboy]

I'm still waiting for conclusive proof of the source of the poisoning.  I remain suspect of these bellicose knee jerk reactions from the new "Axis of Evil".

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, milwaukeeboy said:

I'm still waiting for conclusive proof of the source of the poisoning.  I remain suspect of these bellicose knee jerk reactions from the new "Axis of Evil".

27 nations including 18 European Union and 9 nonEU nations have expelled Russian diplomats

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/26/europe/full-list-of-russian-diplomats-expelled-over-s-intl/index.html

vs. you.

Which has the knee jerk reaction?

[Krataiboy]

The United States charges that the 60 Russians that it targeted are intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover.

 

Just like their opposite numbers in Russia.

[Morch]

33 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

The United States charges that the 60 Russians that it targeted are intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover.

 

Just like their opposite numbers in Russia.

 

I don't think Russia claims this. The Russian move is described more as a tit-for-tat response. 60 for 60.

[Krataiboy]

1 hour ago, Morch said:

 

I don't think Russia claims this. The Russian move is described more as a tit-for-tat response. 60 for 60.

And you actually believe all 60 Russian diplomats given the heave-ho by Uncle Sam are spies? If so, what does the fact that they have only now been unmasked say about US counter-intelligence?

 

Talk about life imitating art. I find Homeland more credible.

[ravip]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

27 nations including 18 European Union and 9 nonEU nations have expelled Russian diplomats

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/26/europe/full-list-of-russian-diplomats-expelled-over-s-intl/index.html

vs. you.

Which has the knee jerk reaction?

This could be due to "Herd mentality" which is rampant today.

[Morch]

1 hour ago, Krataiboy said:

And you actually believe all 60 Russian diplomats given the heave-ho by Uncle Sam are spies? If so, what does the fact that they have only now been unmasked say about US counter-intelligence?

 

Talk about life imitating art. I find Homeland more credible.

 

Didn't say I believe either. The US made this claim, just pointing out Russia did not (as far as I'm aware), as you claimed. With regard to "only been unmasked" now - countries tolerating the presence of known intelligence operatives is pretty routine. They'd usually be tracked, on this or that level. And they make great fodder when trying to get a diplomatic point through. 

[Morch]

3 minutes ago, ravip said:

This could be due to "Herd mentality" which is rampant today.

 

But then we're hearing so much about how Trump destroyed US credibility, international prestige and relations. Would the "herd" follow him? Can't have it both ways.

[khunken]

41 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

But then we're hearing so much about how Trump destroyed US credibility, international prestige and relations. Would the "herd" follow him? Can't have it both ways.

No, the poster didn't say what you imply nor did the herd follow Trump. The herd followed the UK as did Trump.

[Morch]

1 minute ago, khunken said:

No, the poster didn't say what you imply nor did the herd follow Trump. The herd followed the UK as did Trump.

 

Oh, so the UK is now a world leader? That would come as a surprise for quite a few posters who are bent on painting it as anything but. So really doesn't matter if the claim is Trump/May leading the supposed "herd" - neither is particularly credited with commanding such level of international respect.

[Ron19]

A flame post has been removed.

 

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

 

 

[IAMHERE]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

But then we're hearing so much about how Trump destroyed US credibility, international prestige and relations. Would the "herd" follow him? Can't have it both ways.

I thought the 'herd' was following the UK on this. America doesn't have a dog in this fight, is only doing what the UK tells it to do. 

[Morch]

17 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

I thought the 'herd' was following the UK on this. America doesn't have a dog in this fight, is only doing what the UK tells it to do. 

 

The UK tells the US what to do....sure.

[ravip]

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

But then we're hearing so much about how Trump destroyed US credibility, international prestige and relations. Would the "herd" follow him? Can't have it both ways.

Different "herds" will have different "leaders".

Not necessarily a "one leader one herd" scenario - and also depending on the situation AND profitability too! Basically, you scratch my back  and I scratch yours policy.

Edited March 30, 2018 by ravip

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, ravip said:

Different "herds" will have different "leaders".

Not necessarily a "one leader one herd" scenario.

 

As vague a statement as they come...

 

[ravip]

4 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

As vague a statement as they come...

 

Haven't you ever seen this happening in real life?

Herd mentality is instinctive, not a calculated move.

Edited March 30, 2018 by ravip

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, ravip said:

Haven't you ever seen this happening in real life?

 

I'm not quite sure which "this" you're referring to, or how it relates to your posts.

[ravip]

2 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

I'm not quite sure which "this" you're referring to, or how it relates to your posts.

Please see posts #15 & #17 - I am still on the same subject.

[Morch]

6 minutes ago, ravip said:

Please see posts #15 & #17 - I am still on the same subject.

 

Yeah, I got it that you said "herd mentality", you just  didn't provide a good enough explanation of how this applies to  the case at hand. The UK announced it would kick out Russian diplomats and all them other countries simply followed suit? Sounds way too simplistic. It doesn't mean herd mentality is not real, just that the relevance to this seems tenuous.

[sirineou]

The West took reasonable punitive steps toward the Russians because  evidence pointed toward Russian illegal activity  in other countries. The reaction of the Russians is not warranted since the West did nothing illegal in this instance, but understandable.

If the Russians   had not reacted in kind it would have being a de facto admission of guilt.   This whole exercise serves to deter the Russians from future activities of this kind.

[Basil B]

Quote

 

On Friday, in addition to the new Western expulsions, UK Ambassador Laurie Bristow was called in to the Russian foreign ministry to be handed a protest note that said Britain's "provocative actions" had led to the decision by other governments to expel Russians.

It also said Britain would have to further reduce its diplomatic representation in Russia. It is not clear how many more British officials would have to leave. Before the expulsion of the 23 Russians, the UK's Foreign Office listed 60 Russian officials working in the UK.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43596812

 

As I see it we would probable have to withdraw consulate staff that would be needed to assist UK citizens visiting Russia, given that it is now only two and a half months to the start of the World Cup about time the UK Gov and FA asked FIFA to suspend the games and hold them elsewhere as we (and possibly other countries) will not be able to provide sufficient consular services to teams and supporters.