Russia considers NATO's decision to expel two Russian diplomats in Brussels a "gross provocation" based on an "absolutely invented pretext", the Russian foreign ministry says.
"A gross provocation has been carried out against two employees of Russia's permanent office at NATO, whom the alliance's security functionaries want to expel from Brussels on an absolutely invented pretext and without any distinct explanation," it said in a statement.
The expulsion threaten to undermine a recent thaw in Russia-NATO relations, the ministry said, adding that unnamed "forces" opposed to improved ties were behind the incident.
"This disgraceful action fundamentally contradicts statements by NATO's leadership on its readiness to normalise relations with Russia," it said.
"For us it is clear that behind this provocation stand forces which are not interested in giving a stable character to the noted trend towards normalisation."
Earlier on Thursday NATO diplomats in Brussels confirmed that the alliance had expelled the two diplomats in retaliation for a spy scandal in which a former Estonian official passed secrets to Moscow.
The officials included a Russian political counsellor and a son of Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's ambassador to the European Union, one diplomat said.
Former Estonian defence ministry official Herman Simm was arrested last September in a case which has proved deeply embarrassing for Estonia after suggestions that NATO secrets may have been leaked to Russia.
Estonia, a Soviet-ruled republic until 1991, joined NATO and the European Union in 2004 and has rocky relations with its powerful neighbour Russia.
Simm pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced in February to 12 years and six months in prison.
Abonneren op:
Reacties posten (Atom)
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten