WASHINGTON: Russian and US diplomats packed their luggage amid a diplomatic crisis between Moscow and the West, with post-Cold War tensions peaking within the wake of a nerve agent attack on a former Russian undercover agent in Britain.
About 50 males, girls and youngsters left Russia's hilltop embassy in Washington in a blue bus believed to be headed towards Dulles International Airport.
In overall, 171 folks, 60 Russians diplomats who Washington alleges are "spies" and their families, have been scheduled to depart on two planes provided by way of the Russian executive, with one making a brief stop in New York.
Meanwhile in Saint Petersburg, moving vehicles pulled into the entrance of the United States consulate because the American flag used to be taken down, following the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's announcement of its closure and the expulsion of 60 US diplomats.
The consulate's employees were given until 10:00pm to depart, while the place of dwelling must be vacated by way of the end of April, consistent with the Interfax news agency.
The tit-for-tat expulsions came after Russia demanded lately that Britain further slash its diplomatic presence as a crisis in ties between Moscow and the West escalated over a nerve agent attack on a former undercover agent.
The call came after 23 British diplomats have been kicked out of Russia earlier this month and is seen as Moscow's retaliation to the mass coordinated expulsion of Russian diplomatic personnel by way of the UK's allies.
It is the most important wave of expulsions between Russia and the West in recent reminiscence and has seen members of the family plunge to new post-Cold War lows.
The crisis used to be precipitated by way of the March four poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in an English city which Britain has blamed on Moscow, announcing a Soviet-designed military grade nerve agent used to be used.
On Friday, Moscow summoned British ambassador Laurie Bristow, giving London a month to cut the choice of diplomatic personnel in Russia to the similar number Russia has in Britain.
"Russia suggested parity. The British side has more than 50 more people," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova informed AFP.
About 50 males, girls and youngsters left Russia's hilltop embassy in Washington in a blue bus believed to be headed towards Dulles International Airport.
In overall, 171 folks, 60 Russians diplomats who Washington alleges are "spies" and their families, have been scheduled to depart on two planes provided by way of the Russian executive, with one making a brief stop in New York.
Meanwhile in Saint Petersburg, moving vehicles pulled into the entrance of the United States consulate because the American flag used to be taken down, following the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's announcement of its closure and the expulsion of 60 US diplomats.
The consulate's employees were given until 10:00pm to depart, while the place of dwelling must be vacated by way of the end of April, consistent with the Interfax news agency.
The tit-for-tat expulsions came after Russia demanded lately that Britain further slash its diplomatic presence as a crisis in ties between Moscow and the West escalated over a nerve agent attack on a former undercover agent.
The call came after 23 British diplomats have been kicked out of Russia earlier this month and is seen as Moscow's retaliation to the mass coordinated expulsion of Russian diplomatic personnel by way of the UK's allies.
It is the most important wave of expulsions between Russia and the West in recent reminiscence and has seen members of the family plunge to new post-Cold War lows.
The crisis used to be precipitated by way of the March four poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in an English city which Britain has blamed on Moscow, announcing a Soviet-designed military grade nerve agent used to be used.
On Friday, Moscow summoned British ambassador Laurie Bristow, giving London a month to cut the choice of diplomatic personnel in Russia to the similar number Russia has in Britain.
"Russia suggested parity. The British side has more than 50 more people," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova informed AFP.
Russia, US diplomats pack their bags after tit-for-tat expulsions
![Russia, US diplomats pack their bags after tit-for-tat expulsions]()
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April 01, 2018
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