NATO withdraws accreditation for eight Russian diplomats, they were to work in secret for Russian secret services – PRAVDA.sk

On Wednesday, the North Atlantic Alliance decided to withdraw accreditation from eight members of Russia’s Permanent Mission to NATO because they were to work undercover for Russia’s secret services.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

“We can confirm that we have withdrawn accreditation from eight members of Russia’s Permanent Mission to NATO, who have served as illegal Russian intelligence officers,” said an Alliance official who did not want to be named.

NATO has also reduced the number of accredited positions that Russia can fill on its behalf to the Alliance from 20 to ten. This decision will enter into force at the end of October.

According to the source, the decision to reduce the number of diplomats was taken in response to Russia’s alleged hostile activities. However, NATO is still open to meaningful dialogue.

In 2018, the Alliance fired seven members of a Russian mission in response to a neuroparalytic attack from a group of newcomers in the British city of Salisbury. Even then, the maximum size of the Russian delegation to NATO was reduced from 30 to 20 people.

During the attack in Salisbury in March 2018, former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia were poisoned. Both survived the poisoning. British investigators have identified two citizens of the Russian Federation as suspects. Russia denies any responsibility for this attack.

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