* The Dutch Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of 17 diplomats on Tuesday
* It said that they were operating as 'secretly active' intelligence officers
* Belgium, Czech Republic and Ireland followed suit, with Brussels expelling 21
* Move is the latest in an series tit-for-tat expulsions between Europe and Moscow
A total of 43 Russian diplomats have today been expelled from four different European countries - Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic - in coordinated action taken in the shadow of Moscow's war in Ukraine.
The Dutch Ministry announced the expulsion of 17 diplomats that it said were 'secretly active' as intelligence officers.
Belgium's government followed suit, announcing the expulsion of 21 diplomats on suspicion of spying in what it said was in coordination with the Dutch.
The diplomats were given two weeks to leave the country.
Read more ....
Four EU Countries Expel 43 Russian Diplomats Over Spying Allegations
Ukraine war: Dozens of Russian diplomats expelled by four EU nations -- BBC
Four European Countries Expel Dozens Of Russian Diplomats For Alleged Spying -- RFE
Europeans expel dozens of Russian envoys to combat espionage -- AP
Belgium, others expel Russian diplomats over alleged spying activities -- Politico
Four EU countries expel Russian diplomats over spying allegations -- Axios
Ukraine war: More than 40 Russian diplomats expelled from four countries over alleged spying -- SKY News
Were they spying? Probably.
ReplyDeleteKnown spies are often watched and not rounded-up to see, who they will meet. I have seen it. Round up the spies during peace time and you give time for the other side to adjust fire. With the spies back home, it frees up resources for the local spy agencies to more closely investigate, who the spies met and possibly turned.
If it is like the Cold War, the spy agencies will have files on the the turned, but will do nothing. They won't let others know during the lifetime of the turned. It is certainly that way in Denmark. they were and are protected. If the Russia cross over into a NATO countries, those who are turned will be rounded up.