Russia expels 60 US diplomats
(VOVWORLD) - Russia will expel 60 US diplomats and close the US Consulate in Saint Petersburg in retaliation for a similar move by Washington over a spy poisoning case in the UK, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.
 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (Photo: Reuters) |
US Ambassador Jon Huntsman was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to be told of the decision, Lavrov said. Russia also urged the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to hold an emergency meeting next week to investigate the case.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury early this month, and the UK government has blamed Russia for poisoning them. 150 Russian diplomats in 28 nations have been expelled. Mr. Lavrov said Russia will make a reciprocal response and wants to make a consular visit to Skripal’s daughter to investigate the incident.