The protest made to foreign diplomats and the decision to expel them from the territory of the Russian Federation is a logical reaction of the Russian authorities to interference in its internal affairs, said Elena Panina, a member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
On Friday, the Swedish Ambassador, Charge d’Affaires of Poland and envoy of the German Embassy were summoned to the Foreign Ministry building. They were protesting about the participation of their diplomats in illegal actions and declared the unacceptability of such actions. Then it was decided to expel three diplomats representing Germany, Poland and Sweden.
Elena Panina called this decision a logical response to attempts by foreign states to interfere in the internal affairs of Russia. She recalled that any attempts by the Russian media to cover the rallies in the West are perceived as interference.
“And imagine what would happen if Russian diplomats took part in the action of” yellow vests “in France or the notorious storming of the Capitol! The authorities of these states would immediately announce the real” attack “from Russia,” RIA Novosti quotes Panina …
The deputy also called on her Western colleagues to adhere to the principle “do not do to another what you do not want yourself.”
Uncoordinated actions took place in various Russian cities on January 23 and 31, as well as on February 2. The Russian Interior Ministry and the Prosecutor General’s Office have repeatedly warned about the responsibility of both the organizers and participants of any unauthorized actions in the country.
Earlier, Sputnik radio reported that diplomats from Sweden, Poland and Germany were declared persona non grata in Russia.