More than 115 Russian spies booted out of countries around the world in wake of Salisbury nerve agent attack
2 min read
Theresa May has said the world will not tolerate the Kremlin's attempt to threaten international security as it emerged that more than 115 Russian spies have been expelled from embassies across the globe.
Some 23 countries have now taken the unprecedented action in the wake of the nerve agent attack on Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
The total is in addition to the 23 undeclared Russian diplomats who have already been expelled from the UK.
Mrs May gave her ministers the latest figure at a Cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street this morning.
The Prime Minister's spokesman told reporters: "The Prime Minister told Cabinet that 23 countries have now expelled more than 115 Russian intelligence diplomats - an unprecedented series of expulsions that has demonstrated to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security.
“The Prime Minister said the conditions demonstrate the continuing strength of our European. transatlantic and international alliances and partnerships.
“But it is also important to note that our partners are not only taking these measures out of solidarity with the UK, but also because they recognise the threats these Russian networks pose to the security of their own countries and the pattern of Russian aggression which has affected us all.”
Yesterday Mrs May described the collective action as “a significant moment in our response to this reckless act of aggression," adding that there was "still more to be done as we work with international partners on a long-term response to the challenge posed by Russia".
The United States has said it will expel some 60 Russian officials, while Canada said it would remove four.
Meanwhile, EU Council President Donald Tusk said that 14 member states had pledged to boot out diplomats including four each from Germany, France and Poland, three each from the Czech Republic and Lithuania, two each from Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark and one from Latvia.
Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg confirmed today that he had removed the accreditation for seven staff at the Russian Mission to Nato and denied accreditation for three more.
It brings reduces the size of Moscow's presence at Nato down to a maximum of 20 in a "a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behaviour."
Welcoming the show of support, the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that it showed Russia could not “break international rules with impunity".
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