By Tony Boyden-
Russia has expelled four Canadian diplomats over the dispute between the Kremlin and the West in relation to the alleged poisoning of a former spy and his daughter earlier this month.
In an email Friday, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minster Chrystia Freeland said the diplomats have been declared “persona non grata” by the Russian government and efforts were underway for those affected to return to Canada.
The announcement was in retaliation to an announced last Monday to the expulsion of four Russian diplomats from Canada The expulsion of Russian diplomats from Canada was part of the unified stance with Britain that saw the U.S. and more than a dozen European allies also expelled dozens of Russian diplomats in their own countries.
Yesterday, the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow summoned the U.S. ambassador to announce the revenge expulsion of 60 U.S. diplomats in response to Washington’s move. The expulsions from the West and the EU were an expression of solidarity to Britain after the military nerve agent used to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, UK. Yulia is reportedly making good recovery in hospital, according to doctors there. The Kremlin has strenuously denied any involvement in the attack on Skripal, who served as a double agent for British intelligence before he was arrested by Russian authorities and later transferred to the United Kingdom in a spy swap.
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“The well-being of Global Affairs Canada employees is our priority,” Adam Austen, Freeland’s press secretary, said in a statement to The Canadian Press. “We will be making every effort to support those affected and their families with their return to Canada.”
Austen added that Canada’s decision to expel the Russian officials earlier in the week was done “in solidarity with our close ally, the United Kingdom.”
“This action was in no way aimed at the Russian people, with whom Canada has long and fruitful ties,” he said. “Canada remains committed to dialogue and co-operation with Russia on issues where we face common challenges.”
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Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during a Toronto news conference that Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to answer for Russia’s role in the nerve gas attack. The next day, the Russian embassy tweeted its response, accusing Trudeau of using confrontational and unproductive rhetoric.
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