NATO expels seven Russian diplomats over spy poisoning row

NATO has announced its decision to expel seven Russian diplomats and slash the Russian mission to the alliance by a third in retaliation for the alleged nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian double agent in Britain.

According to Press TV, NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday "I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff of the Russian mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others."

"This sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behavior," he added.

Stoltenberg also noted that maximum size of the Russian mission to NATO would also be slashed by a third, from 30 to 20.

Numerous allies of Britain, including the United States, Canada, Australia and dozens of European countries have ordered the expulsion of about 100 Russian diplomats as part of seemingly coordinated attempts against the Kremlin after former Russian double agent Sergey Skripal, 67, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on March 4 on a bench in the British city of Salisbury. The Skripals remain hospitalized in critical condition.

London claims the Soviet-designed Novichok nerve agent has been used to poison the pair and points the finger at Russia.

Moscow has rejected the claims as “absurd,” saying the substance used in the attack could have originated from the countries studying it, including Britain itself. It has offered cooperation with London in probing the case.

The move prompted Moscow to retaliate by ordering the deportation of diplomats of the mentioned countries.

In one of the most significant actions that the administration of US President Donald Trump has so far taken against Russia, the White House announced on Monday that Washington decided to shut down a Russian consulate in Seattle and deport the 60 Russian diplomats in solidarity with the UK. Later in the day, Russia announced its decision to take the similar retaliatory move against the US.

ME