MOSCOW: Russia stated on Thursday it will shut Sweden’s consulate in St Petersburg and its personal mission in Sweden’s second-biggest metropolis Gothenburg, and expelled 5 Swedish diplomats in a tit-for-tat transfer after Stockholm expelled 5 Russians final month.
Stockholm stated final month it had expelled the diplomats over espionage issues. The Russian Overseas Ministry referred to as the expulsions an “overtly hostile step”.
It stated it had withdrawn its consent for the Swedish consulate in St Petersburg from September.
Swedish Overseas Minister Tobias Billstrom stated in an announcement the information was “very regrettable” and “additional affirmation of the adverse political improvement in Russia and the nation’s worldwide isolation”.
“Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who acted throughout the framework of the Vienna Conference and performed customary diplomatic actions in Russia. We additionally deeply remorse the Russian announcement in regards to the Consulate Normal in St Petersburg,” he stated.
Relations between the 2 nations have worsened since Sweden final yr introduced its intention to affix NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian assertion stated ties had “reached an unprecedented low”.
Stockholm stated final month it had expelled the diplomats over espionage issues. The Russian Overseas Ministry referred to as the expulsions an “overtly hostile step”.
It stated it had withdrawn its consent for the Swedish consulate in St Petersburg from September.
Swedish Overseas Minister Tobias Billstrom stated in an announcement the information was “very regrettable” and “additional affirmation of the adverse political improvement in Russia and the nation’s worldwide isolation”.
“Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who acted throughout the framework of the Vienna Conference and performed customary diplomatic actions in Russia. We additionally deeply remorse the Russian announcement in regards to the Consulate Normal in St Petersburg,” he stated.
Relations between the 2 nations have worsened since Sweden final yr introduced its intention to affix NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian assertion stated ties had “reached an unprecedented low”.
